A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Preaching in Fusagasugá Colombia with missionary Myrna Wilkins translating.
(Over 25 years
ago)
"Ambassadors For Christ"
Message
summary: Today, for those
who follow Christ, His ambassadors, we have a
task. Let us each be committed to the cause that
the Lord has given each of us and consider the
incomparably great value and eternal worth of this
task!
Listen to
our message on your audio player."However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24). "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20a).
How many tasks do you have on your "To Do" list today? We all have them, some certainly have more than others. But today let us consider an ongoing task we all have.
Paul spoke of this task in the first daily text. It was the task that superseded all the tasks of living from day in and day out and the commitments that affected only his earthly existence. It was the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. We are all called to be Christ's ambassadors who testify of God's grace in the good times and in the midst of devastation.
We who follow Christ are called to be a witness for the God of truth, as His ambassador to this world. An ambassador is a representative of one kingdom to another. The term that Paul uses is one of the most descriptive in the Bible to describe the calling we have as children of God.
The gotquestions.org teaching site states,
"Christians
are God’s ambassadors in that they have been 'approved
by God to be entrusted with the gospel' (1
Thessalonians 2:4). As we go through this world, we
represent another Kingdom (John 18:36), and it is our
responsibility to reflect the 'official position' of
heaven. We are in this world, but not of it (John
17:16). God’s ambassadors are to be 'as shrewd as
snakes and as innocent as doves' (Matthew 10:16).
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must take the message
of our King to the 'ends of the earth' (Acts 1:8),
imploring men and women everywhere to be reconciled to
God."
When Paul had his
dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus
he was a different man. He received his call at that
time expressed by God's words to Ananias that Saul
(who became Paul) was "a chosen instrument of mine
to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and
the children of Israel". Fundamentally Paul
changed allegiances and his citizenship. "As a
result, he does not live the rest of his earthly
life for evil human desires, but rather for the will
of God" (1 Peter 4:2).
Several verses before our daily text Paul said, "We try to persuade men" (v. 11). Today as Christ's ambassadors may we each faithfully seek to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel!
I am led to the great statement of personal mission made by the apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders in the first daily text. He powerfully models commitment to a task. He models Christ's statement concerning "Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). His overarching focus in life was to "finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me." That task is simply expressed in the phrase "the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Today, for those who follow Christ, His ambassadors, we have a task. Let us each be committed to the cause that the Lord has given each of us and consider the incomparably great value and eternal worth of this task!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Several verses before our daily text Paul said, "We try to persuade men" (v. 11). Today as Christ's ambassadors may we each faithfully seek to persuade others of the truth of the Gospel!
I am led to the great statement of personal mission made by the apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders in the first daily text. He powerfully models commitment to a task. He models Christ's statement concerning "Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). His overarching focus in life was to "finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me." That task is simply expressed in the phrase "the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Today, for those who follow Christ, His ambassadors, we have a task. Let us each be committed to the cause that the Lord has given each of us and consider the incomparably great value and eternal worth of this task!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
whether in life or death, whether in times of
rejoicing or times of enduring we make it our goal
to testify to Your grace that keeps us keeping on.
It is Your grace that makes us more than conquerors
in this life and assures us of heaven in the
hereafter. In our desire to bring as many with us as
possible help us to sort through the tasks that
deter or weigh us down from the sublime task of
witnessing to others of Your saving and keeping
grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"We
Are Ambassadors For Christ" Video Youth song
"Tell Them"
Video Andrae Crouch
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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