Good morning. Continuing from yesterday: therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. We are like the ambassadors from our country. They represent the interests of the United States and its citizens in other countries. We also represent Christ and Christians' interests in this world, foreign to us. When people see us, they are supposed to see Christ. When we behave badly, we give Christ a bad name; just like ambassadors of the United States give the United States a bad name, if they behave badly. Now the next verse can be confusing if you do not realize that the word sin is a noun and not a verb. He made Him who knew no sin (to be) sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. God did not make Jesus commit the act of sin – He made Him to actually become sin on the cross. When Jesus died, sin died. We could not have become the righteousness of God without that happening. Several verses later Paul says: do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness ... or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? I'm sure you've heard many applications of this verse; especially concerning marriage. Of course it can be overdone. If you're not careful, you could never sign a contract for a car or house or anything like that. We are the temple of the living God. He then quotes verses about God dwelling in us and walking among us and being a father to us. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Notice that Paul puts it on us to cleanse ourselves from these defilements. Sometimes Christians like the things that God considers defilements. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. If you bend a little here, the whole thing crashes down upon you. If we believed and acted like God was right there with us and in us, we would not do some of the things that we like to do. Big Brother may be watching us everywhere outside of our home; but God is watching us even there. Father thank You that the reader is an excellent ambassador for You. He/she is an excellent representative to the world for You.

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