TODAY’S VERSE:

2 Corinthians 5:19 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

As we wrap up our study on salvation in prep school, we learned that we are called to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ. What is an ambassador? It is defined as an authorized representative or messenger. It refers to a person/persons representing some entity (country, town, school) while in another place. For example, our local sports teams- Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots- serve as ambassadors when they go to other states to play. We also have ambassadors who live and work in foreign countries, but are citizens of the U.S.A.

Just as our examples are called to represent, so are we to represent Jesus Christ to the world. You may be thinking that you are a citizen of America, so how are you serving as an ambassador? Well, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your true citizenship isn’t in America, or anywhere on this planet.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

That may be an odd fact for you to understand right now. Just know that if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are going to spend eternity with Him in Heaven and there is your true home.

Ok, so now that we know WHAT an ambassador is. How exactly are we to represent Jesus Christ, who is perfect, to the world? Well, we must first learn how Jesus Christ thinks and how He lived His life while He was here on Earth. How do we do that? You probably guessed the answer- we must read our Bibles! There are many examples of how He lived written about in the Bible. One example is in John 13:1-17, which you should go read right now! This is the story of how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet one day. This chore was usually left for the lowest ranking servant in the house, but:

John 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Are we saying that you need to start washing people’s feet when they walk into your home? No, that would be a little strange. What we are saying is that you need to have His attitude of willingness to serve others.

Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

You are not put here on Earth to live a comfortable life that revolves around you and what you want. Is that shocking to hear? If Jesus Christ’s, the God-man’s, purpose was to live sacrificially for others, then ours is, too. Jesus Christ gave up His life for others. He was judged for our sins and died on the cross, so that if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we will never be separated from Him.

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

We will not be called to die on a cross for the sins of the world. We will, however, be given the opportunity to live how He did and put others before ourselves. We will do this by allowing others to go before us, giving up what is ours to those in need, and not living as though we are the only, or most important, person in the world. Does that seem an impossible way to live? Well, it takes the Holy Spirit’s power, for sure, and time- time spent reading the Bible and praying. Then, God will make the changes in you and give you the strength to live like Jesus did.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

In our ambassadorship, we are also to serve as messengers and share the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with others.  This is, once again, something that Jesus Christ did, Himself, and we are called to carry on His good work.

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”.

It is important for you to remember, as Philippians 3:20 tells us, that our true citizenship is in Heaven. We are to serve as ambassadors of Heaven for Jesus Christ. We are to live lives that represent the perfection that is found in both Jesus Christ and in Heaven. Don’t worry, though, you have the all-powerful God who loves you that will make this a possibility. Just keep living your lives for Him; keep reading your Bibles, keep praying, and keep your relationship with Him as the center of your life. As you do this, your life will begin to represent our Lord and you will become an effective ambassador!