2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are
ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
As I was reading this chapter I was challenged yet again as
to how privileged we are as Christians. I don’t know about you but my life is
far from perfect, yet Paul teaches in verse 17 of the same chapter "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Not even that the new is coming but
that it is here. How challenging to think that I am a new creation and that I
represent God when I look at all the times I have messed up, sinned and not
represented God or haven’t conducted myself in a way that is befitting ‘an ambassador for Christ.’
Ambassadors represent those they have been sent by, they
portray their values and their desires. They promote the person, country ,
organisation or club they are representing in a positive light. The idea is
that they give a good representation of those they are acting on behalf of. In
this way we are to represent Christ here on the earth. We are called to promote
the gospel and reach out to people as Christ reached out to people while he was
on the earth. Jesus said in John 13:35 - "By this will all people know you are my disciples, if you have love one for another." God places responsibility on us to reach out to others.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul states that God was making his
appeal for reconciliation to the Corinthians through Paul. The same is true today of us. God appeals
to non-believers through us. It would be so easy for God to bypass us to represent
himself here on the earth. There wouldn’t be the fighting about whose doctrine
is right or whose style of worship is correct. There wouldn’t be conflict about
who we are or aren’t going to accept in Church or how our services should run.
Yet putting that aside instead he has chosen to use us. What a testimony of
Grace and Mercy – demonstrations of the very thing we are supposed to be
representing – that in spite of our imperfections God still chooses us to be
his ambassadors. What an expression of this, that even when we get things wrong
we can come to the living God and commune with him, but that he also says “hey
you still wear my mark, you’re still my ambassador.”
When we mess up Satan tries to bring us down and tries to
say we are of no use., that we have no right to be a representative of
God. God’s desire is to have
someone who has a heart after him, that puts their trust in him, that
recognises their need for a Saviour. Moses was a murderer and Abraham lied to
try and keep himself out of trouble yet in Hebrews 11:16 it states ‘ Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God, for he has prepared for them a city.’ Despite what they did these
were men of Faith, that is what pleased the heart of God. In the same way even
when we make mistakes God is not ashamed to be called our God.
We can’t pretend that we don’t mess up but Paul teaches that
because of what Christ has done for us we are new creations and still have that
title of Ambassador for Christ in spite of what we have done. We like to complicate things and think
that our performance is what qualifies us for being an Ambassador, the truth is
that as soon as you make the commitment to follow Christ you are an Ambassador
for Christ, what you represent is the gospel that he brought. Just as through faith you were
Justified so you became qualified to represent Christ. This doesn’t mean that
you will be perfect and you won’t make mistakes it doesn’t mean that non
Christians, and sadly in some cases Christians, won’t question your
qualification to be an ambassador, but that is the beauty of the gospel. At the
heart of it is the simplicity that it isn’t about me or you and what we do but
that it is about Christ and what he has done so that we can be reconciled to
the Father.
We are called to be ambassadors in every area of our lives,
in word and in deed. I am challenged to think about my actions, what I do and
don’t do. What I should have done in certain situations, not to beat myself up
when I get it wrong or to think how wonderful I am when I get it right but
simply to be conscious of what my life looks like so that the next time I’m in
a situation I can be a better ambassador for Christ. What are you doing today
to be an ambassador for Christ to bring the message of reconciliation to those
around you? It can be a small act of kindness to a friend or stranger. It could
be an encouraging word or praying for someone. It could be not losing your
temper where in the past you may have done. Whatever it is keep on doing and if
you find you aren’t quite flying the flag as you should then where you can
make the change do it and where you need a little more help ask the Holy Spirit
and he will help you.
