Dear Christ-Follower, according to scripture, God has “entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Cor 5:17-21)
Therefore., according to scripture, each of us, individually, are the ambassadors of Christ. In last week’s article, I listed three characteristics of ambassadorship to help us gain a fuller understanding of what it means to be “an ambassador of Christ”. First, an ambassador represents a ruler. Secondly, an ambassador is credentialed. Thirdly, an ambassador is protected. I’ll pick up with the fourth characteristic in this article.
Fourthly, an ambassador is a citizen of the country he represents. Phil 3:20 says “For our citizenship is in heaven.” As citizens of heaven we should reflect it. When you meet a some one from a different country or even from a different area of our country how they talk and act normally reflects where they are from. As followers of Christ, our citizenship is in heaven.
George Shultz, when Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, “You have to go over to the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country.” They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent–unerringly.
When Shultz’s old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test. This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: “That’s my country.” Secretary Shultz later said about that event, “I’ve told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. ‘Never forget you’re over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You’re there to represent us. Take care of our interests and never forget it, and you’re representing the best country in the world.’ “
Fifth, ambassadors keep in contact with the leader of his home country. Communication is important in life. Communications important in battle. Prayer is simply communication with God. Jesus warns us “Watch and pray, so we don’t fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
The message we have been given as Christ’s ambassadors is one of reconciliation. It’s a message of hope, forgiveness, and restoration. God “gave us the ministry of reconciliation” because He is “reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and is not counting men’s sins against them.” And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
Let’s do a great job representing Christ this week. After all He has done for us, He really does deserve our very best.