Christ’s Ambassadors

Written by Tom Blackaby

I don’t know if I should say anything or not, Pastor,” the woman started, “but I have a dilemma where I work.” I waited for her to continue. “You see, at my store I have to deal with a lot of customers, but the rudest and most demanding of all are Christians — and some of them come from our church! It’s embarrassing to have my co-workers ask me to serve these particular people because they know they have to be nice to me.”

I was shocked and a little angry. Christians behaving worse than non-Christians! I wanted names! I wanted to make a few phone calls and remind them of their responsibility to represent our church properly in the community! But when I put my pride aside and realized they were really representing Christ, I knew it was going to take more than a phone call to impress on these Christians their true purpose in life.

Share the Message of Reconciliation

Second Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Verse 19 says He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. In Paul’s day the Roman Empire sent ambassadors, or representatives, of their government to subjugated peoples who were willing to come under Roman rule. These ambassadors set the terms of peace and established Roman law in the region on behalf of the Roman government. 

Paul was informing the Christians in Corinth that they were being sent as ambassadors to people who had been separated from God to share terms of peace and to bring those people into the kingdom of God. They were being entrusted with the message of reconciliation. No longer would people have to live apart from God. They could come under His protection and love and into His kingdom.

Treat People as Christ Would

Imagine how awkward it would be for you to belittle a store clerk for her incompetence and then invite him or her to your church. Imagine how much harder it would be for that same clerk to think you had anything at all that he or she wanted after being treated so harshly.

When we go out into the world as Christ’s ambassadors, we go in His authority, with His power, using His wisdom, representing His kingdom. But at the same time we must then act as He would act, and say the sort of things He would say and treat all of those God created with respect and dignity just as He would treat them. If Christ was willing to die for that store clerk, don’t you think we also should see him or her as special and loved?

Unfortunately, the way some Christians have treated people in the past will keep them from being able to share the gospel with those individuals. God, in His mercy, will have to send someone else to bring those people the good news. How sad. 

When the woman from my church continued her conversation, she almost interrupted herself and said, “But wait, there are two women who come in my store from our church, and what a blessing they are. I know they are going through tough times right now, but you’d never hear them complain or criticize or argue when they come in. What wonderful testimonies they have. My co-workers and I almost compete to serve them.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew these two women well, and it was true they were both facing difficult personal times. I was so proud of them for representing our church so well, but more, for acting as their Lord would act.

Do a Self-Evaluation

I began doing a mental search of all the various places I frequented during the week — the gas station, the grocery store, my children’s school, youth activities, Bible studies, even the walks I took after supper. I wondered to myself, What do people see when they look at me? Am I too serious? Do I look people in the eye and give them a welcoming smile? Do I expect more of others than I should?

I have a habit of looking rather stern as I ponder the world’s problems, so I began to deliberately smile more in an attempt to have a more inviting demeanor. I determined to ask others one or two questions about how their day had been or what they had done over the weekend or how their children were doing to show more of an interest in those I meet during the day. I began to plan nice things to do for people just for the sake of being nice and with no other motives. I want people to know that I represent Christ, and ultimately I want the opportunity to tell them about my Lord Jesus.

Perhaps you can take a few minutes today to look over the past few weeks and examine how you interacted with others. Did the way you treated them draw them closer to Christ or repel them? Did what you said bring them a blessing or a curse? Did you represent your Lord in a way that pleased or disappointed Him?

Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” The goal is not for others to think you’re a great person or to want to be like you. The goal is for them to praise God; to recognize that you belong to Him and that your good deeds come out of the overflow of your relationship with Him. What you do shows whose you are. 

Christians are ambassadors of the Most High God, both a great privilege and a great responsibility.

Tom Blackaby, pastor and co-author of The Man God Uses, lives with his wife and three children in Stavanger, Norway.

This article is courtesy of HomeLife magazine.

Share your thoughts with other readers:  Post Comments   Rate this Article