8-10-2015

Good Morning All!!

         2 Corinthians 5:20; “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal   through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

     It sounds like a good job.  It would be a wonderful to be an ambassador, especially in a country like England or France or Canada.  It would be an important job; after all it is your job to represent your country in the nation where you are working.  If the nation where you were serving wanted to know what your home country’s position on a trade deal or a travel agreement; they would ask you.  If someone in that country was curious about your home country, places of interest, traditions and customs in your home country, they would ask you.  That is what an ambassador does; he lives in a foreign country and represents his home country.  That is why Paul calls us ambassadors for Christ.

    This verse connects well with what Paul wrote in Philippians when he said our “Citizenship is in heaven.”  We are no longer of this world; we have been claimed by Christ.  We are his family; we are his nation.  Our home, our home country, is heaven.  So as we live in this world we are ambassadors.  We live in the land where we serve but we are not a citizen of that land.  So as we watch the events in the country that we live in, that we serve in but we do not necessarily participate in these events.  We remain true to our homeland, to our customs, traditions and beliefs as a nation.  This might be relatively easy in a country that is on friendly terms; like being the ambassador from the United States to England or maybe Luxembourg; but what if the nation you are serving in is hostile perhaps even an active enemy of your homeland?  That would be a more difficult task.

    This is the reality that we have been called to.  The world truly is hostile towards us; in reality, the world hates us and despises us.  The world would love to see us destroyed.  The world desires that our citizenship in heaven ceases to exist.  That way, it could claim us as a citizen of that country and force us to live according to their law and their rule.  Yet God calls us to be his representative in this world that we live.  We need to tell the world what our position is on the matters being discussed.  We are to answer questions about what our country believes and where our country stands when it comes to the issues in the world.  We are to be cordial to the citizens of the foreign country; we are to try and get them to visit and maybe even change their citizenship to ours.  Yet we are to clearly state what our country believes in and what our country stands for.

    We might not influence the country we serve in but they will know the truth and they will know what our beliefs are.  We are to live in that foreign land but always cling to the true that we are citizens of heaven and ambassadors of Christ here on earth.

Father, give me strength to be your spokesman.  Give me the faith to always rely on your mercy to keep me safe. Keep my eyes focused on home, the home with you in eternity.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret