When a sovereign nation has diplomatic relations with another country, it appoints an ambassador to be its representative in that foreign land.
In today’s verses Paul describes us as Christ’s ambassadors. And what does this mean? Well, we can see some similarities in the roles of diplomats still today. Ambassadors go to live in a foreign culture, just as followers of Christ live in the world but are not of the world (John 17:14-19), being citizens of heaven.
Ambassadors are also the face of the country they represent. If they are rude and crass, they make a negative impression. As Christians, we represent the one who “died for all.” As a result, we live “for him who died for them and was raised again.” Our demeanor, generosity, sacrifice, and love are to show others what Jesus has done for us.
In Paul’s day, though, ambassadors from Rome were different from most ambassadors today. They were representatives in a land that would soon become a province of the Roman Empire. So they were responsible to bring others into the Roman family.
Our situation as ambassadors for Christ is similar in some ways. While we are not to be militant empire makers, we must recognize, as Paul puts it, that it is “as though God is making his appeal through us.” Through the work of our Savior, we are ambassadors of reconciliation as we introduce others to Christ and help bring them into the family of God.
Lord, we are privileged to be your ambassadors. Guide us to represent you faithfully each day. Amen.
About the author — Gerrit Bomhof
Gerrit Bomhof immigrated as a young child with his family from the Netherlands to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in 1954. He graduated from Trinity Christian College in 1972 and from Calvin Theological Seminary in 1976. He served as a pastor to five churches in Canada and retired in June 2017.
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