II Corinthians II
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ. (II Corinthians 5:20 ESV)
Ambassadors
Shirley Temple, known first for her acting in a myriad of cute films, was a fantastic ambassador for the United States to the United Nations. Because she understood what an ambassador actually is.
She was asked numerous times, “What do you think of this policy that you are voting on?”
She always answered, in effect… “It does not matter. I represent the United States, not myself.”
An ambassador represents someone else.
An ambassador does not work to accomplish their own goals, ambitions, or ideals.
It is hard for modern Americans to grasp this. We probably think that an ambassador has power to accomplish their own plans. But the minute an ambassador does that, they stop being an ambassador.
And we are ambassadors for Christ in the world today.
Our own likes, dislikes, presuppositions, prejudices, experiences, and wishes are not a part of how we act in the world.
We GET to be Christ’s ambassadors.
What does HE actually say about issues in His Word? What did HE actually do that we can mimic and imitate? What were HIS reasons behind His activities, that can alter our perceptions?
We are not Christians and ambassadors so we can design and follow our own agenda. Whether that is political, economical, personal, relational, principial, or practical.
We are HIS ambassadors.
We work for HIM.