Weekly Devotionals
Ambassadors – Man as Chaplain
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ESV
At an awards ceremony honoring former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, a story was told about how Shultz would conduct interviews with newly sworn-in ambassadors:
George would point them to a large globe in his office and then ask, “Mr. Ambassador, so where is this country of yours?” The Ambassadors, fully briefed, would take a look at the globe, confidently spin it around, and point proudly to their assigned post. But Secretary Shultz would politely return the globe to its former position, point to the United States, and say: “No, Mr. Ambassador, this is your country.”
In other words, Shultz was saying, “You represent America and its leader, President Ronald Reagan.”
In 2 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are ambassadors. His audience would have understood the secular role of ambassador, an honorable and important position in the ancient world, just as it is today. But what is an ambassador for Christ?
An ambassador for Christ is an authorized representative of our sovereign Savior, King Jesus. The marks of an ambassador are simple: First, there must be a saving relationship with Jesus (see verses 17 and 21). Second, there must be a life featuring the values of the King and His kingdom. The Bible is our study guide on how to be an effective ambassador.
Men, have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador? Providing heavenly representation in the life of your family, church, and sphere of influence is perhaps the most important role you can play in this life! In our role as chaplains and spiritual leaders, we represent the kingdom of heaven and its leader, King Jesus. We have been entrusted with an incredible stewardship of communicating His amazing grace and transcendent truth as His ambassador in a world almost vacant of biblical love and truth.
Ambassadors don’t act according to their own interests but according to the interests of the one who sent them. Truly, being an ambassador for Christ is a high calling. But there’s more to being an ambassador than simply providing a godly and winsome example of what living the Christian life truly looks like. When two countries are at odds, ambassadors work to find common ground, attempting to heal the rift and restore peaceful relations. Note that Paul pleaded with the Corinthian believers to be reconciled to God and to play a role in others’ reconciliation.
I found it interesting that some form of the word “reconcile” appears five times in these verses. In conflict, we are meant to be “go-betweens.” As spiritual leaders and chaplains in our families, we need to take the lead and set the pace, providing an example of reconciliation. If there is a rift in a relationship, we should take the initiative in seeking forgiveness and healing. The work of mending fences in our families is ongoing. So, as ambassadors who are reconcilers, we must be patient and persistent. Our role as an ambassador for Christ is of utmost importance when it comes to representing our King and His kingdom, as well as promoting reconciliation through the gospel and the ultimate reconciliation it brings.
- How are you functioning as an ambassador for Christ with your family, friends, and community? How well are you representing your King and His kingdom?
- Are you modeling reconciliation in your home, taking the initiative to heal rifts in relationships, beginning in your marriage and then with your children and other family members?
- Pray and ask God for His help in training your children and grandchildren to be ambassadors for Christ who will impact the culture with the life-changing message of Jesus.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ESV
At an awards ceremony honoring former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz, a story was told about how Shultz would conduct interviews with newly sworn-in ambassadors:
George would point them to a large globe in his office and then ask, “Mr. Ambassador, so where is this country of yours?” The Ambassadors, fully briefed, would take a look at the globe, confidently spin it around, and point proudly to their assigned post. But Secretary Shultz would politely return the globe to its former position, point to the United States, and say: “No, Mr. Ambassador, this is your country.”
In other words, Shultz was saying, “You represent America and its leader, President Ronald Reagan.”
In 2 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are ambassadors. His audience would have understood the secular role of ambassador, an honorable and important position in the ancient world, just as it is today. But what is an ambassador for Christ?
An ambassador for Christ is an authorized representative of our sovereign Savior, King Jesus. The marks of an ambassador are simple: First, there must be a saving relationship with Jesus (see verses 17 and 21). Second, there must be a life featuring the values of the King and His kingdom. The Bible is our study guide on how to be an effective ambassador.
Men, have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador? Providing heavenly representation in the life of your family, church, and sphere of influence is perhaps the most important role you can play in this life! In our role as chaplains and spiritual leaders, we represent the kingdom of heaven and its leader, King Jesus. We have been entrusted with an incredible stewardship of communicating His amazing grace and transcendent truth as His ambassador in a world almost vacant of biblical love and truth.
Ambassadors don’t act according to their own interests but according to the interests of the one who sent them. Truly, being an ambassador for Christ is a high calling. But there’s more to being an ambassador than simply providing a godly and winsome example of what living the Christian life truly looks like. When two countries are at odds, ambassadors work to find common ground, attempting to heal the rift and restore peaceful relations. Note that Paul pleaded with the Corinthian believers to be reconciled to God and to play a role in others’ reconciliation.
I found it interesting that some form of the word “reconcile” appears five times in these verses. In conflict, we are meant to be “go-betweens.” As spiritual leaders and chaplains in our families, we need to take the lead and set the pace, providing an example of reconciliation. If there is a rift in a relationship, we should take the initiative in seeking forgiveness and healing. The work of mending fences in our families is ongoing. So, as ambassadors who are reconcilers, we must be patient and persistent. Our role as an ambassador for Christ is of utmost importance when it comes to representing our King and His kingdom, as well as promoting reconciliation through the gospel and the ultimate reconciliation it brings.
- How are you functioning as an ambassador for Christ with your family, friends, and community? How well are you representing your King and His kingdom?
- Are you modeling reconciliation in your home, taking the initiative to heal rifts in relationships, beginning in your marriage and then with your children and other family members?
- Pray and ask God for His help in training your children and grandchildren to be ambassadors for Christ who will impact the culture with the life-changing message of Jesus.