Ambassadors
“So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal to the world through us. We plead with you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20
Over the past two weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my citizenship and what it means to be truly transformed… and I think I can explain what I’m thinking with an example. To give you a little background, I started going to church on Saturday nights at 6, which I actually prefer to Sunday morning. Afterwards, I meet with a group to discuss the sermon. This particular Saturday, we were having a “relationship” night, which meant we would play games, socialize, whatever…. One of the games involved “naming our favorite bible story and why.”
Now, if you would have told me 4 years ago that I would be sitting around on a Saturday night of my senior year in college, talking about bible stories – not only would I have thought you were nuts, but I probably would have been offended. I mean, "I’m not a loser…"
What surprised me most is that during the games, it never occurred to me how strange this behavior could seem to an outsider… or how much I would have made fun of me not too many years ago. I realized (after one of the members of the group pointed out that it was Saturday night and we were talking about bible stories like they were the big plays in the Superbowl) that God has transformed everything about me… my heart, my mind, my soul… my final destination. Even my current citizenship.
A couple of years ago I was made a full-blown citizen (with all its privileges and rights thereof) of the Kingdom of Heaven. I didn’t do anything or pay anyone off to achieve this – I just had a Connection on the inside. In fact, not only was I made a citizen – but 2 Corinthians 5:20 says I have been appointed Ambassador! My job is now to represent my Homeland for the best interests and glory of my King – at all costs. I am no longer to be concerned with the affairs of my old home anymore – I am working for my King’s affairs.
1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles…” Aliens? Exiles? Ambassadors? Kinda gives you a new perspective on your existence, when you view yourself not as another American, another Christian or an ordinary person walking around in the world – but as a commissioned Ambassador of God’s kingdom. In the same way that a Japanese Ambassador to the United States does not seek the good of the United States, but that of Japan and his superiors – we are called to serve the Lord and seek the good of the Kingdom of Heaven, not our culture, our country or anything else that defies our Lord. But notice what the verse at the top says… God is making his appeal to the world through us – therefore, be reconciled to your God. If the ambassador isn’t actively communicating with his King, he’s not representing the King’s desires. Be reconciled, Ambassador.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my citizenship and what it means to be truly transformed… and I think I can explain what I’m thinking with an example. To give you a little background, I started going to church on Saturday nights at 6, which I actually prefer to Sunday morning. Afterwards, I meet with a group to discuss the sermon. This particular Saturday, we were having a “relationship” night, which meant we would play games, socialize, whatever…. One of the games involved “naming our favorite bible story and why.”
Now, if you would have told me 4 years ago that I would be sitting around on a Saturday night of my senior year in college, talking about bible stories – not only would I have thought you were nuts, but I probably would have been offended. I mean, "I’m not a loser…"
What surprised me most is that during the games, it never occurred to me how strange this behavior could seem to an outsider… or how much I would have made fun of me not too many years ago. I realized (after one of the members of the group pointed out that it was Saturday night and we were talking about bible stories like they were the big plays in the Superbowl) that God has transformed everything about me… my heart, my mind, my soul… my final destination. Even my current citizenship.
A couple of years ago I was made a full-blown citizen (with all its privileges and rights thereof) of the Kingdom of Heaven. I didn’t do anything or pay anyone off to achieve this – I just had a Connection on the inside. In fact, not only was I made a citizen – but 2 Corinthians 5:20 says I have been appointed Ambassador! My job is now to represent my Homeland for the best interests and glory of my King – at all costs. I am no longer to be concerned with the affairs of my old home anymore – I am working for my King’s affairs.
1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles…” Aliens? Exiles? Ambassadors? Kinda gives you a new perspective on your existence, when you view yourself not as another American, another Christian or an ordinary person walking around in the world – but as a commissioned Ambassador of God’s kingdom. In the same way that a Japanese Ambassador to the United States does not seek the good of the United States, but that of Japan and his superiors – we are called to serve the Lord and seek the good of the Kingdom of Heaven, not our culture, our country or anything else that defies our Lord. But notice what the verse at the top says… God is making his appeal to the world through us – therefore, be reconciled to your God. If the ambassador isn’t actively communicating with his King, he’s not representing the King’s desires. Be reconciled, Ambassador.
posted by Brad at 10:19 PM
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