I always look for the therefores in a passage of scripture. “Therefore” often leads me to to a conclusion that isn’t “natural” or “normal” from my original view. But the change is right. The change in my thinking is necessary.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Therefore…

The therefore in any argument are very important. You read something and there should be a response. The response is often a change in thinking, speaking and acting. Even in this short passage in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, therefore appears four times, building to change our thinking and actions:

1.    Christ did not live for himself. He told his disciples that “the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” and that He came to be a servant not to be served. Therefore, to follow his example, we shouldn’t be living for ourselves. We live for him. We are his servants. (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28)

2.    Our view of our Savior and our view of other condemned sinners changes. That is the second therefore. If Christ died for me and took the penalty I deserved in my place, I cannot help but want to regard Him differently. And I should start to view others in the same way He did.

3.    The third therefore flows from that. I am not who I once was. Things I once counted as important fade in value. Others are not the enemy, they are people who need the same reconciliation I have received. Their most important need is trespass resolution and reconciliation.

4.   This means, therefore, we become ambassadors. And so we must be like Paul: “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” There is nothing more important, more pressing or more loving than to follow through with the therefores. I do this on behalf of Christ.