Are You an Ambassador?
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Why do you think Paul said Christians are ambassadors for Christ? What is the advantage of seeing ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, and what do we have to do so we can see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ?
Knowing we are ambassadors for Christ is not something we can do entirely on our own, but if we seek to be ambassadors, then God will mold us, drawing us closer to him, giving us a Christ-like mind of an ambassador. Jesus knew that he was an ambassador for the Father: Heaven was his home and he was temporarily on earth to fulfill the mission set forth by his Father. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4) This was the beginning of Jesus’ prayer the day before he was crucified; he was completing the assignment from the Father and going home. His ambassadorship was complete after he endured the cross.
When we are closer to the Lord than anyone or anything or earth, then we will know we are ambassadors for Christ, temporarily assigned to this world as his servants. Reaching this point in our walk is an ever-growing process. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (John 17:16) An ambassador knows he is not of this world, this world is not his home, heaven is his home. If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) We love our family as God commands, but the word “hate” is used to compare love for God to love for self and for family and others. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) An ambassador for Christ gives the Lord priority, surrendering his life to the Lord’s will, because he sees himself as the Lord’s servant. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) We follow Christ by living in the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit, keeping our thoughts, words, and actions controlled by the Spirit. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
If we want to see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ, we must know this world is not our home. We must love the Lord more than anyone or anybody in this world and surrender to the Lord’s will in our lives. Ultimately, we must deny our own desires in order to follow Christ through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How do we reach this point in our spiritual walks? First we must desire in our hearts to know that we are ambassadors; we must pray for this desire, and walk in this world as Jesus walked in this world. We serve Christ as Jesus served the Father. As we minister to others, we identify with the heart of Jesus, and this leads us to depend on the Lord as Jesus depended on the Father. Once we truly depend on the Lord and our wills align with God’s will, we will see ourselves as his servants: Ambassadors for Christ.
Today seek to give the Lord priority, allowing your conscience to be controlled by the Spirit. Think about the freedom of being God’s servant, giving him control and leaving the results in his hands. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) Pray and walk in Godly wisdom, because God’s way yields better results than following our own emotionally driven wisdom.
Let’s pray: Lord, help me to see myself as your ambassador and to experience the freedom that comes from trusting you. Guide me through the Spirit and help me to surrender to your divine will. Draw me closer to you, and further from this world. Help me to minister to this world from the Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen