Ambassadors of Christ
Ambassadors for Christ
John 20:21 “as the Father sent me so I send you.”
Most of you will have some understanding of what it means to be an ambassador for another country. They go to a foreign place and are required to be persona grata (acceptable) with both countries – the one they represent and the one they go to.
The honour of the country is in its ambassador’s hands. The people watch him or her and say – this is the way they act and behave in their country – this is what the people there are like. The ambassador’s role is to make the people think well of the country he/she is representing.
We would all do well to remember this as we go out into the world as ambassadors for Christ. People watch how we act and what we do with this in mind.
The apostle Paul understood is a good example of this. He saw himself as acting on Christ’s behalf and representing what Jesus stands for in every situation. As Christ’s ambassadors, we are called to represent Him both in the Kingdom of God, which comes from our country, and out in the world, which is where we are sent.
Matthew 28:18-20
Definition of the Ambassador Role
We are meant to be about the message of the King and His Kingdom, which means we are meant to bring to the world a vision of God and what this means to humanity, and the creation as a whole, as well as how He is concerned for each individual human person.
What the World is Concerned About
Many of the people we are in contact with today live life, based on “what is in this life for me?” However, many do also carry concerns for the ecology, environment, diet and medication and economic issues and of course – relationships. All these things are also our concerns as Ambassadors for Christ.
If we are going to influence the culture today – or more importantly – to accurately represent the heart of the Father – we must find ourselves not only concerned with all of these issues – but also with some answers for them.
Ephesians 3:8-11 “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
This is not just a spiritual mandate – it is about the full purpose of God for the whole of creation. If we are to be true ambassadors for Christ we must define ourselves with the Kingdom. Our mission, to the whole of creation – is to reveal the hidden plan of God in every area. We cannot claim to be followers of Christ and leave the secular world, out of our commitment.
The Cycle of Growth and Decay
We are not just concerned for the preservation of what we have, because in the Kingdom of God, growth, expansion and new life can carry on forever. Life is not about fighting over who gets the biggest piece of the pie because the size of the pie is infinite.
If the Holy Spirit tells you to give away something you already have – you had better prepare for something bigger coming to you, because God honours faithfulness and obedience. That’s why in Christ we can be incredibly generous – because the source we are drawing from has no limit.
Stinginess or meanness has no place in the Kingdom of God – it is a total denial of who God claims to be as both our provider and His desire to bless others through us. God’s heart in this is seen at the wedding in John 2 when Jesus turned the water into wine – it was the best wine the people had ever had – only the best was good enough.
Isaiah 43:19-21 “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me, the jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.”
The Spirit of God is a Creator and He will always create and bring increase wherever He is given the freedom to move. He makes what is sick and dying come to life again. As ambassadors, this life must flow through us and impact both the people and the environment around us.
We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation – if our citizenship is truly from an age to come, we are called to bring the life of the age to come into the here and now – today.
This means we are ambassadors of healing, redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. This is why Christianity is meant to be so exciting. This is truly what being an ambassador is all about.
The Call of an Ambassador
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:8 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. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION” — giving no cause for offence in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
What this passage requires from us.
5:21 – we are called to be righteous
6:1 – don’t receive the grace of God in vain – now that we have been set free we need to use our freedom for love and good works – not return to our old ways
6:3 – give no offence for anything – this is in the context of manners, appreciation, the way we speak to others, the way we conduct our daily affairs – we should be impeccable in this regard – we should be delightful and refreshing to be around – and fun as well.
6:4-5 – we should be prepared to suffer and make sacrifices – not just for God but also for the benefit of others – this is not just about when it suits us – it is even when it takes us right out of our comfort zones.
6:6 – picks up on this – here is how we should respond when been put out of our comfort zone for others.
6:7 – we need to learn to use the tools God has given us.
6:8 – we are meant to maintain the same disposition even when we have been wronged and are unjustly accused of things.
All these things are very challenging – but all reflect the nature and character of Christ – which – as His ambassadors, we are called to demonstrate. Something good to go away and wrestle with at the start of the year.
Philippians 2:14-15 – ” Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
God bless you,
Bruce Billington.