An ambassador represents his or her nation and is accountable to the leader of that nation. Paul writes, “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Later, he writes, “I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.” (Ephesians 6:20) Are you and I faithfully fulfilling our duty as Christ’s representatives here on Earth? Do others around us get a clear picture of Jesus Christ when they hear what we have to say and see how we live?
As for me, I have never been an ambassador for my country, although I did represent my country in the uniform of the U.S. Air Force. I have been a representative of nine different companies or organizations in my lifetime. In each of those positions, I followed the Apostle Paul’s instructions to work enthusiastically and willingly as if I were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Ephesians 6:7 and Colossians 3:23) Fortunately, not one of those organizations asked me to do or say anything for which I would be ashamed. I represented them honestly and fairly.
As a Christian, I am actually more than an ambassador; I am a member of the royal Family; following the instructions of my heavenly Father. I am related to Him by blood; the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He wants me to represent Him truthfully and boldly. He will never ask me to do anything for which I would be ashamed; but He does ask me to leave my comfort zone and risk being ridiculed and shamed by others around me. If they hate my heavenly Father, they will hate me and my message from Him. I don’t see that as a burden of being a child of God. Rather, I see it as a blessing and evidence I am walking in the footsteps of my Lord.
I don’t always feel special, but I am special in the eyes of my Creator and so are you, my brother or sister in Christ. We are all members of God’s ambassador team, but each of us has a different gift and a specific mission as an ambassador for Christ. Let’s perform our missions enthusiastically, boldly, willingly, joyfully and lovingly until we are called home with mission accomplished.