Monday, May 7, 2012

Ambassadorships

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Co 5:20 – 2 Co 6:1.

The summer between my son’s eighth and ninth grade he traveled to thirteen countries as a student ambassador with a group of other teens.  Leading up to that trip there were meetings for logistical purposes, but also meetings to explain and train them as to the meaning of being a student ambassador for our country.  They were going to be representing the United States so a certain standard had to be presented to them as an example.  One of the principles shared was one that taught them that while in that country their rights were few as visitors.  They had to embrace the fact that they were simply visitors allowing the character of the US to be revealed in their actions.

Because the flawless perfect Lamb climbed up on that cross we are reconciled to God.  Jesus Christ died to His own rights, agenda and entitlements so that we could approach God in purity and righteousness.  Because the cross stands empty, we have been given a voice by receiving Christ as our Savior.  We have died to our own spiritual country and have been given a standard to show the character of Christ in a fallen world.  We are no longer residents of a flesh society but citizens in the society of Christ.  ‘…you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.’ Eph 2:19.

Just as the student ambassadors operated as one body showing their character, we too are called upon to operate as one voice in our ambassadorship in Christ.  We cannot receive God’s grace in vain, meaning we cannot accept the gift of reconciliation and still live for self.  By accepting a citizenship in one country we lose all rights in the other country.  We cannot be residents of both.

To which country are you a resident?

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