Ambassadors For Christ

II Cor. 5:20 - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled in God.

In the context of this scripture, we notice that Paul is discussing the matter of reconciliation. And truly we must be reconciled to God and must be reconciled one with another in order to carry out the complete plan of God in our lives. Reconciliation is the act of God, on the basis of Christ death, eliminating the enmity or separation of our fellowship together and bringing us to a complete and maturing fellowship with Him. The cause of this separation was sin and the answer was the cross.

I want to look at this word ambassador. In the political world, an ambassador is the highest diplomatic position to a foreign country. Along with this position comes great responsibility. They are in essence the eyes and ears of the nation in which they represent. The ambassador will receive messages and deliver messages, they will relay policy issues with the host government to assure that all things are in control politically, and we could go on and on. Now, I want us to look at how we as Christians are really ambassadors for Christ.

What messages do we bring from the kingdom in which we represent? What is it that we are trying to relay to people who do not know our King? Not only do we bring a message to the lost, but to the saved as well. What are we giving to the saved, what type of message are we bringing to them?

First of all, I believe that the message of salvation is a message that should be relayed to both the lost and the saved alike. To the lost it's a hope that Christ is still willing to forgive them. John 3:16 shows just how much he loves us and the reward for accepting his gift. To the saved it's a continual message in that we remember what Christ has done for us and through are accepting of his gift we have eternal life. Sometimes I think we forget what he's done for us.

Secondly, the message of encouragement must be delivered. What a great fellowship encouragement brings. When your down just the words of another sister or brother in Christ can make all the difference in how your day is going. It's amazing to me how the Spirit will put someone on your mind and just that phone call or visit can truly be a blessing. In Deut. 3:28, Moses was instructed by God to encourage Joshua for the upcoming responsibility he was about to embark on. What encouragement we can get from the man of God.

Thirdly, the message of hope. What is hope? Hope is confidence, confidence in knowing what God said he will do, he will do. Confidence in knowing that no matter what this world may do Christ will still one day redeem his church. It's a confidence in knowing that one day I'll see those that have already gone to be with him. Confidence in knowing that that he will deliver me from all my enemies. What a hope we have in Christ! Without this hope I would surely be lost, in this present world and to the world to come.

So, as ambassadors we have a message to bring. How are we delivering the message? Do people see Christ in us? What responsibility we have as his children. God help me to be the ambassador you want me to be.