On a muggy summer day last year, I loaded up on a bus with about fifty middle school and high school girls to head to student camp. What on the surface looked like an ordinary four hour bus ride turned into a divine appointment. This journey paved the way for a unique opportunity to once again embrace my calling as an ambassador for Christ.
What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? To understand this term fully, let’s look at the role of an ambassador in secular terms. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomatic official appointed by a government or sovereign to serve as its official, permanent representative in a foreign country or before an international organization.
In light of this, think about the importance of the role of an ambassador for Christ. We are appointed by the King of Kings to represent the eternal Kingdom! What a crucial and tremendous responsibility! As one of the seven markers of a maturing disciple, we should always be striving to grow as ambassadors. An anchor passage for this truth is reflected in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, where we see a few key distinctions that mark the lives of ambassadors.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ambassadors of Christ are new creations and serve with Christ’s authority
We are given the privilege to be ambassadors for Christ, the King of Kings, because through his perfect life, death, and resurrection, we have been united with him and made alive through him. As such, our old identity has passed, and we have been given the new identity of an ambassador. Some of Jesus’ last instructions come from Matthew 28:18-20. In giving the Great Commission, the task for the first ambassadors of Christ, Jesus makes it clear that ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. Through this authority, he tells his ambassadors, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” If we are in Christ, as Providence Church we have been given the authority of the King to go and make disciples of all nations!
One way to grow in our ability to articulate who we now are in Christ is to learn, practice, and share a short version of our testimony. Can you share your story in a way that is succinct, communicates the heart and life change that have taken place inside of you, and points to the greater story – God’s gospel story? What was your life like before Christ? How has Jesus changed you? What does your life look like now? Reflect on your story, write it out, practice it, and then get out and look for ways to share it!
Ambassador of Christ have been entrusted with the gospel
God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. We have been entrusted with the best news for all of mankind – that our King has made a way to inherit the Kingdom. We are given the responsibility of inviting people into this Kingdom.
There are many ways we can articulate the gospel message. Maybe you use a gospel sharing tool that helps you organize the key points of the gospel in a compelling way. Or maybe you are able to engage others in gospel conversations by asking good questions. Worldview questions are a good way to get to know more about the worldviews of others and open the door to share our biblical worldview. As you engage with those around you, think about how you might discuss some of these questions that reflect the creation, fall, redemption, and restoration story.
-
- How did it all begin?
- What went wrong?
- Is there any hope?
- What does the future hold?
These questions are great ways to authentically learn about the views of others and often provide a way to share the biblical worldview.
Ambassadors of Christ live intentionally
Because we have been given the message of reconciliation, the King makes his appeal through us! When was the last time you stopped to consider the power of this truth?
How can we be serious and intentional about this role we have been given? It starts with prayer. Who are the people in your life that need to be invited into the Kingdom? Make a list and pray for them regularly. Add people that you meet to this list, and pray over your list often. Only when we have armed ourselves with prayer are we ready to go to battle for the King. Be expectant each day that God has ordained every person who will cross your path – and see your interactions and conversations as a part of his divine plan. Be prayerful as you go throughout your day – whether that is running errands, in the office, going to the grocery store, or at sporting events. Ask the Holy Spirit to be seen in every interaction you encounter with others.
One simple way to do this is by offering to pray for people that you encounter. When we set off for student camp, as a small group leader and the assigned bus monitor, I was given the role to help the bus driver and the girls on our bus with any needs they had. So, before we started our journey, my friend asked our bus driver, K*, if we could pray for our travels and for him. Little did we know that offer would make a lasting impact and get him thinking about our encounter for a full week. Her intentionality in using that opportunity to show care by offering to pray for his needs set the tone for the rest of our interactions with him.
Ambassadors of Christ look for ways to serve
One of the ways we can represent our King is by our willingness to show the same love, care, and concern he showed while he walked this earth. This is such a simple but often overlooked way that an ambassador can have a lasting impact. As the bus monitor, one of my responsibilities was to make sure the bus was clean when we arrived at camp. So, I hung around after all the girls had exited and checked each seat for trash. This small act of concern was noticed and appreciated by K.
Ambassadors of Christ are always ready
Just as an ambassador is intentional in looking for gospel opportunities and looking for ways to serve, an ambassador is always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3:15).
When K arrived on Saturday to pick us up from camp and take us back to Providence, the first thing he said to me was, “Holly (he remembered my name!), I’ve never had a group leave the bus so clean! I knew something was different about all of you.”
Knowing that this was a unique opportunity provided by God, I replied, “K, we are different. That is because we love Jesus and want to give him glory and honor in everything we do. Have you heard about Jesus? What do you know about him?”
This led to a two hour conversation on the drive back, where K was full of questions about the Bible and the God we serve. He even stated more than once, “I know God is real and has put you on this bus for a reason.”
Ambassadors of Christ are dependent on the Spirit
If living life as an ambassador seems like a never-ending task list, we have definitely missed the point. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God can use every interaction for his Kingdom purposes and for his glory. Are we willing to embrace our role as an ambassador for the greatest Kingdom that has ever been and will ever be?
In the end, K admitted that he simply wasn’t ready to follow Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom that only God can provide, we challenged him to not wait too long to repent and put his faith in Christ. No one is guaranteed tomorrow or even the next breath. We left him with a Bible and a challenge to read the gospel of John. Our role as an ambassador in K’s life may be complete. The work of heart change and life transformation is up to the Lord. May our King of Kings call our friend K into his eternal Kingdom! Please pray this with me.
May you be encouraged anew today to embrace this wonderful role as an ambassador for Christ. There is no greater role, no greater call, and nothing in this life that will bring more fulfillment and joy than being called to participate with our King in his eternal work of changing hearts and lives.
*Name abbreviated for privacy.
