Be Christ’s Ambassador Every Day || Who Am I Again? || Part 4

2 Corinthians 5:20

NASB	NLT	VOICE
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.	20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”	20 So we are now representatives of the Anointed One, the Liberating King; God has given us a charge to carry through our lives – urging all people on behalf of the Anointed to become reconciled to the Creator God.

Learning to Be an Ambassador

In Roman culture, ambassadors were official representatives sent by a powerful ruler to share messages and negotiate for their ruler. Paul is using this common imagery for the Corinth church to help them understand their role as a Christian. Overall, believers are tasked with sharing the Gospel. Being an ambassador implies authority. It also implies responsibility. Christians have a role and a duty. They are not only to share the Gospel. They are also to represent what it means to live out the Gospel life. God uses believers as tools to share His message of salvation. We’re not only called to share our story, but God’s story. Paul isn’t just suggesting or advising the church to share God’s message, but he is pleading with them. Paul knows the church struggles with division and misunderstandings. Paul is pushing for reconciliation – restoring the broken relationship between God and humanity due to sin. Reconciliation is an invitation to accept the work of Christ on the cross. This work made peace with God possible. 

Living As an Ambassador

We are called to be ambassadors to represent Christ in our daily lives. We need to live in a way that reflects His teachings and characters. Two things we need to watch when living a Christian life: our words and our actions. Our words need to be based in love. Does that mean we don’t help correct, guide, teach others when bad behavior happens? No. We do need to do that. Paul teaches Timothy this as well. Still, we must do it in love. Don’t condemn, judge, belittle, or bully someone because they are doing something wrong. Show them your concern. Have a conversation with them about it. Listen to their side. Pray with them (if they are comfortable) and move ahead. Our responsibility isn’t to judge, but we are called to plant seeds and allow God to go to work. We are the hands and feet, but God is the head and heart. The same goes for what we do. We can very easily be called out for being hypocritical. If we’re going to call someone out, we need to make sure the log is out of our own eye. We must recognize that none of us is perfect in our actions. Additionally, we should make sure that we are living out the best version of who God called us to be. Again, the foundation for this is to love others the way God loves us. 

Above everything, remember this: I am an ambassador for Christ

Reflection Questions

1. What struggles do you see happening in your church?
2. How is your life reflective of being an ambassador in this context?
3. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. How do you see this ambassador mindset being applied there?

Call to Action

Take some time to pray over this verse. See where God needs you to improve your ambassador responsibility through what you say and do. Write down 3 things you can do today to strengthen this talent.

Next part: Who Am I Again? #5