Ambassadors For Christ

Leslie is one of our many faithful
ambassador's of Christ at Zion. I
give thanks for his service to God
and for representing Christ
no matter where he is.
 

"So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinth 5:20

What exactly does it mean to be an ambassador of Christ? How are we to represent him?

 

While I served as a chaplain at a juvenile correction facility, I often asked the question of the young men, who purported to be Christian, if they were going to continue to represent their old gangs or if they would represent Jesus. I recall a story one young man shared about how he had become involved in a gang fight outside of a church. He and his friend had worn their colors to worship as did a couple of rival gang members. Imagine that! They all belonged to the same congregation. After he told the story, and hearing it spoken aloud himself, he realized how fully he had put his gang affiliation before God and before the family of God. He had been practicing idolatry in a house of worship. He had been blatantly representing his gang rather than Jesus in the church of Jesus Christ.

 

Most of us are a little more cautious about our conduct inside of a church building. We want to look and act like representatives of Christ within the context of a congregation. But, what about outside the church building? The Church is; after all, not a building. Who or what are we ambassadors for when we go out into the world?

 

May God help us to be more aware of our call to be ambassadors of Christ, proclaiming the Good News of his Kingdom for all who would believe in him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Corinthians 10 Boast in the Lord

2 Corinthians 10 NIV
If we're going to boast, let us boast in the Lord. It is He who calls us. It is He who empowers us.

Paul finds himself in a situation where he must defend himself and his ministry in order to minister to the Corinthians. There will always be those who attack the servants of God in order to undermine them; in order to undermine God's Word. It is important that we understand that we are not in a battle with the world; but, with spiritual darkness. We may live in the world and feel attacked in the world. But, we do not fight alone. It is by the power of God that such battles are won. The battle is of a spiritual nature. With the help of God, we fight with spiritual weapons. We fight with the two-edge sword; which is the Word of God. One edge destroys what is evil; while the other edge for cicatrizing the wound; for the healing of the world.

Sometimes, it is necessary, as Paul tells us repeatedly, to confront those within the community that the evil that is being done might be brought to an end through repentance that the one who spreads the ill-will (evil) will be healed and reconciled to the Body of Christ. His words were often like a two-edge sword. He would attempt to destroy false beliefs and false thoughts, steering the people away from wrong actions and lifestyles even while he encouraged the people to continue in the Lord that they and all whom they knew or would know might be saved in Jesus Christ. The words of his lips and pen were meant to destroy those things that destroy lives and heal the people that God had sent him to serve.

Paul also knew that it was not he; but, the power of God in him who would fight this battle. Yes, Paul boasted. He boasted in the Lord and what the Lord was doing through his followers.

God's Peace - Pr. J