that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NIV)
God’s pattern of redemption — God reconciling the world to Himself — is not a pattern of might and power. Just as Christ suffered shame and reproach on the cross, we are to identify with Him in suffering as we are sent as ambassadors of reconciliation. We should fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal, view others as having intrinsic value, and give our resources sacrificially, so that God’s glory may increase and that others may find the hope of eternal life.