Ambassador for Christ
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
2 Corinthians 5:20
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth telling them that they are ambassadors for Christ. What do you think the advantages are if we see ourselves as ambassadors? Actually all Christians are ambassadors for Christ whether we realize it or not. We will identify the advantages and the freedom that comes from knowing that we are ambassadors for Christ.
Ambassadors are temporarily assigned to a foreign land to represent their homeland. We live temporarily in this foreign land representing Christ and Heaven is our homeland. Realizing this fact helps us to become servants of the Lord, knowing our purpose in this foreign land is to represent Christ. We know we are on a temporary assignment and when our ambassadorship is over we go home. This keeps us eternally minded and enables us to endure the hardships. This foreign land is our temporary home; Heaven is our permanent home.
The priority of an ambassador is to represent the views and policies of his homeland to those in the foreign land; our priority is to represent Christ in this world. Even though an ambassador is in a foreign land he/she needs to keep in close contact with their homeland to discuss current policies. We also need to have a close connection to Heaven: To our Lord through prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship. Therefore seeing ourselves as temporary ambassadors helps us to keep Christ the priority in our lives.
Even though an ambassador lives in a foreign land, he/she knows that this land is not their home. We know this world is not our home, therefore we are not part of this world even though we live in it. Jesus told his apostles that they are not of this world and that Heaven is their home. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (John 17:16) It is important that we become eternally minded and that we see ourselves as ambassadors, for this places eternity in our minds.
An ambassador is controlled by the leaders from his home country, and presents his homeland’s views and policies. We do the same because we let Christ live in us: we are guided by the Holy Spirit and we live as his servants. Letting Christ guide us and giving him control to handle all situations in our lives through his divine power, wisdom, and love relieves us of the difficulties that can burden our lives. Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit allows us to be successful in this life.
Today see yourself as an ambassador for Christ and know that your responsibility is to represent Christ in this foreign land. Realize that this world is not your home but that Heaven is your home, and that every choice you make today has eternal consequences. Live freely today in Christ knowing that he is in control; live as his servant, giving your best to the Lord and leaving the results in his hands.
Let’s pray: Lord, help me to know that I am an ambassador for Christ living temporarily in this foreign land. Help me to represent Christ to everyone today in my thoughts, words, and actions. Open my heart to hear the Spirit guiding me through this day. Thank you for my homeland in Heaven, and for the promise of bringing me home when my ambassadorship is through. In Jesus name, Amen.