Chosen and Sent

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." - (2 Corinthians 5:20)

What is an ambassador?

"To be a senior, that is, (by implication) act as a representative (figuratively preacher): - be an ambassador."

An ambassador is one who is sent to represent, or re-present the sender. And similar to the photo above, in ancient times, an ambassador was always sent with a signet ring, with the sender's seal on it. That seal carried with it, the authority of the sender.

I've had some great discussions with friends recently where, they as a Christian, have been feeling like they should be "doing more." They are faithfully working hard at their jobs, supporting their families, being a good dad as best they can.

But like so many followers of Christ today, we ask Him, "Should I be doing more?" 

More for the Kingdom?

I recently encouraged a close friend who is struggling with these questions with the following proclamation: "We are not servants in the House—we are sons—sons of God." We don't have to jump through a bunch of religious hoops to be pleasing to our Father. He loves us as sons. 

But as His sons, God also sends us as His ambassadors.

We are sent to represent, or re-present our Sender.

And we are sealed with His 'signet' or seal—the seal of the Holy Spirit. We have been given God's authority to go and re-present Him to a lost and dying world—desperately in need of salvation—in need of the love, hope, peace and  freedom of soul and spirit that only Christ can offer them.

As Gods' ambassadors, often times we feel like being a husband, father, employee at our job, or even a parking lot attendant at the church is not 'doing enough' for the advancement of the Kingdom. We desire to be, we feel like we should be, doing more.

However, if we acknowledge God's sovereignty, we will realize that He has already placed us where He wants us.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, am I content with where He has me right now?

But along with that, we must determine if we are fulfilling the role of an ambassador where He has placed us.

We think of a "calling" as going off to Africa to be a missionary, or planting a church somewhere south of the border. But to think of our calling as just being a dad, or a husband, or working at the job God gave us. That doesn't seem to us like it's our calling.

But it is.

Paul wrote in his letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, that God, 

"Has saved us and called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Timothy 1:9).

When you're saved you're called—wherever God has you at that time.

Now, that doesn't mean God won't send you somewhere else. But that is only according to His timing and His will. The Bible says that if you are faithful over the few things that God has given you to be a good steward over, then He will give you more. Again, only according to His will and timing.

I've learned the hard way that when you try to 'make something happen' for God, that it only causes problems and you make a mess of things. God does not need you to make things happen for Him.  He needs you to be thankful and content with where He has you right now, and then to be still and listen for what He would have you do, moment by moment, and then just be obedient to that direction He gives you.

It's really pretty simple.

The hard part is staying patient and content and not trying to get ahead of God.

Just be still and know that He is God.

The body of Christ—the sum total of all followers of Christ across the world—is like a beautiful tapestry, made up of individual threads—covering the entire planet. We're not a bunch of loose yarns. 

God can't use a bunch of Lone Rangers, off doing their own thing.

God has you right where He wants you.

You may work on a construction site all day.  That's where God has called you. You may lie sick in a hospital bed. That's where God has called you. You may be unemployed and unable to work due to a medical limitation. That's where God has called you. You may drive long haul trucks across the country. That's where God has called you. You may be a mom who takes care of your children and your household. That's where God has called you. You may work in a hospital emergency room 24 hours a day. That's where God has called you.

God can use you wherever you are if you'll let Him.

Your co-workers on the job site already are, or will go through many difficult trials as you get to know them. Will you make yourself available to love them, listen to them and encourage them? Your neighbors across the street who don't know Christ need someone who will be a friend to them and love them through the loss of a family member. Will you put aside your feelings of being uncomfortable talking to someone you really don't know and extend the love and grace of God to them in their hour of need?

You are an ambassador of Christ.

Will you let God use you to re-present Him to those in need?

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.