Ambassadors Under Authority
"We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)
An ambassador holds one of the most dignified positions in the world. They represent their nation in a foreign land, carrying their government's message, living in accordance with their nation's values, and conducting themselves as though their government is watching every move. Because it is.
An ambassador does not have the freedom to freelance. They do not get to develop their own message or set their own agenda. Their job is simply this: represent the one who sent them, faithfully and with full authority.
Paul says that is exactly what we are. We are ambassadors for Christ, sent into the world not as our own representatives, but as His. The message we carry is not our own opinion, our own philosophy, or our own spiritual self-help advice. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that we be reconciled to God.
What I find deeply moving in this verse is the language God uses: 'as though God were pleading through us.' Pleading. The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Lord of heaven and earth, is pleading through ordinary men and women like us. He could speak through angels, through fire, through miracles. And yet He has chosen to plead through us.
This gives our lives an extraordinary significance. The conversation you have with your neighbour, your colleague, your family member, may be the moment God is pleading through you. The life you live at work, at school, at home, is your ambassadorial credential. Your actions are your letters of appointment.
But here is the weight of it: an ambassador who ignores their government's instructions brings dishonour to the nation. A Christian who lives inconsistently with the gospel brings confusion to the world about who Christ is.
We are called to live under the authority of Jesus Christ and the authority of His Word. Not as a burden, but as a privilege, because we carry the most important message in the world.
Are you a faithful ambassador today? The world around you is watching.
Prayer: Lord, what a privilege it is to carry Your message. Forgive me for the times I've been a poor representative. Fill me with Your Spirit so that my life commends the gospel and may Your plea for reconciliation be heard through my words and my ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Pastor Ras
All Nations Community Church
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