Ambassadors for Christ
Mar 15 2024 - Eric Buresh
Familiarity can foster an attitude that reduces the profound to the trivial. My eyes recently passed over 2 Corinthians 5:20 while my heart was not stirred. Yet, the Spirit drew my eyes back over and over again until I had stopped and actually thought about the massive truth: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
What a grand and weighty privilege it is to be called ambassadors for Christ! Picture this in your mind's eye: you, dear believer, are a representative of the heavenly kingdom, an emissary sent forth with a divine purpose. You are not a mere wanderer in this earthly realm; rather, you carry the authority and message of the King of kings.
As ambassadors, we are entrusted with a sacred duty — to bear the image of Christ in a world yearning for redemption. Just as a seal signifies authenticity, we are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit, certifying that we are God's own. This designation is not to be taken lightly; it is a mantle of responsibility that rests upon our shoulders.
Consider the urgency in Paul's words: "as though God were making his appeal through us." Do you grasp the gravity of this statement? The Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of souls, chooses to make His appeal through feeble and fallible vessels like us. He invites us to be His mouthpiece, His hands and feet, in a world steeped in brokenness and longing for His grace.
In this role as ambassadors, we are called to embody the very essence of our Lord. Our words and actions should reflect a love that knows no bounds, the grace that surpasses understanding, and the mercy that triumphs over judgment. As representatives of Christ, our lives become living epistles, telling a story of redemption, hope, and reconciliation.
Yet, let us not forget that being an ambassador for Christ is not without its challenges. The world will not always welcome the message we carry, and at times, we will face adversity. Nevertheless, take heart! The One who sends us is greater than any opposition we may encounter. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and His grace is sufficient for every trial.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us embrace our identity as ambassadors for Christ with joy and humility. Let us go forth into the world, not with arrogance, but with the knowledge that we carry the message of salvation, the very hope that transforms lives. May our lives be a living testimony to the reconciling power of the Cross, and may we, as ambassadors, draw others into the glorious light of Christ.
For the matchless name of our Savior!