Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

AMBASSADORS OF GOD
2 Corinthians 5:16-20


“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." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
 
After his conversion, the way Paul viewed people changed radically. From then on, he did not recognize anyone according to the flesh; he no longer evaluated people based on external, worldly standards. In this passage Paul admits that ‘we’ i.e., all the people, had beheld Christ ‘according to the flesh’ based on mere human parameters.

In Christ and New Creation: In Christ implies unity with Christ through faith in him and being committed to him (Romans.6:11). New Creation is the realization of God’s work in us, using our will and choices. So we must both receive the gift of being a new creation and be challenged to live the life of a new creation. This takes place in Christ, through whom all things are created anew.

Ministry of Reconciliation: Reconciliation involves a change in relationship from bad to good—from hate to friendship. Let us understand that it is God who reconciled us—restored us in our relationship with Him by bringing about a change in our lives. This is not something we could have done for ourselves. It required God’s initiative, because our unholiness was incompatible with God’s holiness. Paul says that Christ died for our sins while we were yet sinners. - We are justified by his bloodby his sacrifice. -Therefore, we have been reconciled to God (Romans 5:8-10).

Having received us to himself through Jesus Christ, now God expects us to take-up the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we who are the recipients of divine reconciliation have the privilege and obligation of becoming God’s instruments to proclaim the “message of reconciliation” throughout the world. Paul regards himself as commissioned by Jesus Christ for God’s ministry. So Paul thinks that he should bring others to the terms of God, whereby they also become citizens of God’s kingdom and members of his family.

Ambassadors of God: The ambassador of any nation is a foreigner to the land where he is assigned the duty and lives among people who usually speak a different language, who have different traditions and who follow different ways of living. Same is the case of Christians. They live in the world; but they are citizens of heaven. In that context, they are strangers to the world. Therefore, those who are not willing to be different from the world and worldly living cannot be true Christians. An ambassador also speaks for his country. For example, an Indian ambassador speaks on behalf of India. Similarly, we Christians have to speak for Christ and his kingdom. And our timely decisions, actions, and voices would bring the message of Christ to the people around.
The honor of a country in another land rests in the hands of her ambassadors. Their words are listened, their actions are watched, and they represent their nations in all respects as if these nations are judged by their ambassadors. Here are the Christian’s proud privilege and daunting responsibility. The honor of Christ, the Church, and God’s Kingdom is in the hands of each one of us. Let every word and action of ours reflect the mission of our Church and the vision of our Master.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege given to me to be an ambassador of your Kingdom. Help and guide me to fulfill my responsibility. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
An ambassador of God is not simply an agent; he is also a spectacle.

Dr P. C. Thomas, Christos Mar Thoma Church, Mulund, Mumbai, India.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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