“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:20
Ambassadors have one job: to represent their home country while living in a foreign country. They handle all affairs on behalf of their home country, and it is quite a responsibility.
Our identity in Christ is significant. Jesus didn’t just save us to deliver us from sin and death; He saved us for a purpose. What is our purpose? Jesus desires to partner with you and me to fill the earth with His image and His glory. We are to represent to the world who God is and what He is like.
Imagine being the ambassador for Thailand but you don’t know much about it. You have never been there and you don’t really speak Thai. How good of an ambassador would you be? I am not trying to shame you, but challenge you. We, as new creations in Christ, represent Jesus in all matters here on earth.
This is quite a responsibility. He is not asking you to be a spiritual sheriff (i.e. to judge the world and others). He is not asking you to convert anyone (because we don’t have that kind of power). But He is asking you to introduce Him to those near you. Exodus 34:6-7 says, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”
May we, through Christ, be merciful, gracious, patient, loving, faithful and forgiving, as He is to us.
— Brian Hommel, Arizona Diamondbacks chaplain
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