When you picture a beggar in your mind, perhaps you envision someone begging another person for money, food, or even mercy. Usually, the beggar is in a lower and poorer position compared to the person to whom he is begging. It is unthinkable that a rich man would beg something from a poor man. As God is the richest and greatest being, it is natural that we would beg Him for things we need that He could provide, such as for our physical and emotional needs, as well as spiritual needs of forgiveness and wisdom. But, asking respectfully, would God ever beg us for something?
In the second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul is trying to persuade some to get right with God before they appear before Him in the judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). Notice how the inspired writer puts it: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV). He uses the words, ‘pleading,’ and ‘implore.’ The first means to urge strongly (William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 765.) The second, according to Webster's Dictionary, means to beg. So God urges strongly and begs us to come to Him to receive forgiveness of sins, and be able to live with Him forever in heaven. Even though the word love is not in this particular verse, we understand, in part, God’s great love for us.
It is hard to fathom the love God has for us. How could He want us? Paul describes what we were before we were cleansed by the blood of Christ: For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:3-5). The Corinthians were like a people who were filthy, smelly, drunk, unloving, selfish, hateful, and God wanted them to live with Him, even begging them. Yet, before God could invite them, He had to offer up His Son to pay the price for their sinful ways. It is fitting that this verse wherein God begs (2 Cor. 5:20) is followed up by these words: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (v. 21). It's as if these verses describe God planting the cross on the broad way (Matthew 7:13) and begging all those who pass by to come to Him!
Furthermore, even though God is all powerful, He does not make us come to Him, but gives us the choice. God, in this way, submits to us. The more you learn about the nature of God, the more you ought to love Him. Indeed, what more could He do? I believe, on the last day, so many will mourn over their selfish ways they lived instead of responding to the loving plea of God which is found on many pages of Scripture. Respectfully, our God is not too big to beg. How have you responded to His pleas? Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
Brotherly, Jamie
