“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT)
Paul was saved by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Acts 9 tells the story. There, as Paul (then called Saul) traveled to Damascus to arrest and persecute followers of Christ, Jesus came to Paul in a vision. Thereafter, Paul was blind for a while. When Paul regained his sight through a prayer by Ananias, his life was forever changed. No longer did Paul consider himself a persecutor of Christians. He believed in the risen Jesus Christ. Paul sought to spread the gospel and was urged on by the Holy Spirit and Christ Himself to preach and teach. In the end, Paul the persecutor of Christians became an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
What is an ambassador? An ambassador is a representative of a leader or country or group. The ambassador speaks for the leader or country or group. The ambassador’s words and purpose carry the authority bestowed upon the leader or country or group. Wherever the ambassador goes, whatever the ambassador does reflects upon the one(s) who sent him or her. In Paul’s case, we are told in the scripture for today that he was “Christ’s ambassador” (2 Corinthians 5:20). As Christ’s ambassador, God was “making his appeal” through Paul. Paul “spoke for Christ”, begging people to “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20b). Paul represented Jesus, spoke for Jesus, and did his work in Jesus’ name.
You might think that Paul, being a Christian leader who was called by Jesus Himself, was Jesus’ only ambassador at the time. That is far from the truth. Contrary to this opinion, Paul calls himself one of Christ’s “ambassadors” in 2 Corinthians 5:20a. Any person who is a follower of Jesus Christ becomes an ambassador for Christ. That person represents Christ to the world. They even speak for Jesus to an extent!
When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two in Mark 6, they became de facto ambassadors for our Lord. Being ambassadors, Jesus gave them “authority over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7). As a true follower of Christ, you will also represent Jesus. Jesus will also give you authority over unclean spirits, the authority to preach and teach the gospel, the authority to represent Him wherever you go. The question is….. how well will you represent Jesus as an ambassador for Christ?
When William McKinley was President of the United States, one of his duties was to choose ambassadors to represent the United States to foreign powers. As he was filling these offices, McKinley was given the name of one man who held promise as an ambassador. However, McKinley turned down the man for the appointment.
Privately, a friend came to McKinley and asked why he had turned down the man for an appointment as ambassador. McKinley “recalled boarding a streetcar at rush hour and getting the last vacant seat. Soon an elderly woman got on, carrying a heavy clothesbasket. No one got up to offer her a seat, so she walked the length of the car and stood in the aisle, hardly able to keep her balance as the vehicle swayed from side to side.” The man McKinley turned down for ambassador was on that streetcar. McKinley remarked that “Instead of getting up and helping her, that man deliberately shifted his newspaper so it would look like he hadn’t seen her.” McKinley inevitably gave up his own seat to the woman and graciously held her basket to boot. (from “Our Daily Bread” reading for Monday, November 8 as printed in 10, 000 Sermon Illustrations).
McKinley didn’t want a man who wouldn’t even give up his seat for a struggling elderly woman to represent him and the government of the United States.
Jesus was very particular who he chose as disciples. There were many who followed our Lord, but only twelve were chosen for His closest traveling companions. The twelve represented Jesus in their missions and work. They spoke for Jesus in many ways. They were the first ambassadors for Christ. There have been many since. You are also one, are you not?
The scripture for today urges those who represent Jesus to call on people to repent and be saved. As Paul wrote, we need to urge people to “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20b). Have you spoken candidly to anybody with this message? When was the last time you urged someone to repent and be saved; to “Come back to God!”?
As Christ’s ambassador today, how will you live your life? What decisions will you make? How will your actions reflect on your Savior? Jesus chose you to represent Him on this earth at this crucial moment in history. Your presence is critically important to the future of the gospel message. Your faith reflects Jesus’ ministry and mission. I pray you make a good ambassador….
What is an ambassador? An ambassador is a representative of a leader or country or group. The ambassador speaks for the leader or country or group. The ambassador’s words and purpose carry the authority bestowed upon the leader or country or group. Wherever the ambassador goes, whatever the ambassador does reflects upon the one(s) who sent him or her. In Paul’s case, we are told in the scripture for today that he was “Christ’s ambassador” (2 Corinthians 5:20). As Christ’s ambassador, God was “making his appeal” through Paul. Paul “spoke for Christ”, begging people to “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20b). Paul represented Jesus, spoke for Jesus, and did his work in Jesus’ name.
You might think that Paul, being a Christian leader who was called by Jesus Himself, was Jesus’ only ambassador at the time. That is far from the truth. Contrary to this opinion, Paul calls himself one of Christ’s “ambassadors” in 2 Corinthians 5:20a. Any person who is a follower of Jesus Christ becomes an ambassador for Christ. That person represents Christ to the world. They even speak for Jesus to an extent!
When Jesus sent His disciples out two by two in Mark 6, they became de facto ambassadors for our Lord. Being ambassadors, Jesus gave them “authority over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7). As a true follower of Christ, you will also represent Jesus. Jesus will also give you authority over unclean spirits, the authority to preach and teach the gospel, the authority to represent Him wherever you go. The question is….. how well will you represent Jesus as an ambassador for Christ?
When William McKinley was President of the United States, one of his duties was to choose ambassadors to represent the United States to foreign powers. As he was filling these offices, McKinley was given the name of one man who held promise as an ambassador. However, McKinley turned down the man for the appointment.
Privately, a friend came to McKinley and asked why he had turned down the man for an appointment as ambassador. McKinley “recalled boarding a streetcar at rush hour and getting the last vacant seat. Soon an elderly woman got on, carrying a heavy clothesbasket. No one got up to offer her a seat, so she walked the length of the car and stood in the aisle, hardly able to keep her balance as the vehicle swayed from side to side.” The man McKinley turned down for ambassador was on that streetcar. McKinley remarked that “Instead of getting up and helping her, that man deliberately shifted his newspaper so it would look like he hadn’t seen her.” McKinley inevitably gave up his own seat to the woman and graciously held her basket to boot. (from “Our Daily Bread” reading for Monday, November 8 as printed in 10, 000 Sermon Illustrations).
McKinley didn’t want a man who wouldn’t even give up his seat for a struggling elderly woman to represent him and the government of the United States.
Jesus was very particular who he chose as disciples. There were many who followed our Lord, but only twelve were chosen for His closest traveling companions. The twelve represented Jesus in their missions and work. They spoke for Jesus in many ways. They were the first ambassadors for Christ. There have been many since. You are also one, are you not?
The scripture for today urges those who represent Jesus to call on people to repent and be saved. As Paul wrote, we need to urge people to “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20b). Have you spoken candidly to anybody with this message? When was the last time you urged someone to repent and be saved; to “Come back to God!”?
As Christ’s ambassador today, how will you live your life? What decisions will you make? How will your actions reflect on your Savior? Jesus chose you to represent Him on this earth at this crucial moment in history. Your presence is critically important to the future of the gospel message. Your faith reflects Jesus’ ministry and mission. I pray you make a good ambassador….