Are we ambassadors?

2 Corinthians 5 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, ³ inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight— ⁸ we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. ¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Today’s text ends saying:  If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. In John 15:18-20 Jesus says:  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yetbecause you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you,‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”  More and more, because the world has made clear its hatred for Christ and His followers, believers are closing the embassies of Christ. Because faith in Christ is rejected, mocked and persecuted, many who believe have become more like secret agents than ambassadors. Rather than proudly and boldly proclaiming that they are citizens of the kingdom of heaven and representatives of Christ, they choose to blend in with the society and culture of the world. Rather than proudly representing Christ, they keep their faith to themselves. How can God make an appeal to the world through those who are not visible in the world? An ambassador, even when the nation he or she represents is unpopular, proudly and boldly stands for the interests of their kingdom. If we are in Christ, we have been made new. The things of the world should have passed away. We should no longer be concerned with the opinion of the world, but rather with being a servant and an ambassador of Christ.  In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus says:   “You are the salt of the earth;but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do theylight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works andglorify your Father in heaven.”  God makes His appeal to the world through the light of Christ that shines through His ambassadors.

The text says:  He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.  Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—  for we walk by faith, not by sight—  we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  Through the Spirit, we have the opportunity and ability to be present with God, even while we are in the world. We can walk by faith in the Spirit. Hebrews 4:16 says:  Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  In Matthew 18:20 Jesus says:  "Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."   So, we have the confidence and the ability to go to the throne of grace and be in the presence of God whenever we have a need. We also can invite Jesus into our presence. Even if we are alone, we have the Holy Spirit with us and in us, so we are two or three gathered in His name. The text says:  The love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Amen. May I truly be an ambassador of Your kingdom. May I walk by faith, through the Spirit, appealing to the world through Your light and love. May Your love control me as I boldly and proudly represent the kingdom of heaven.  Amen.