Beloved, brothers and sisters, the midterm election is over and whether your party affiliation won or not is not the issue at hand. The main issue at hand is the special appeal God is making through us as Christ’s followers. At this point, you’re asking, “What special appeal is God making”? 2 Corinthians 5:20 sheds light on the divine appeal.
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (ESV).
You see God has given us a mandate as His ambassadors. An ambassador is a representative or envoy sent on a diplomatic mission. In the New Testament, the Greek word “presbeuo” is used by Paul the apostle to describe someone appointed by God to declare His ways or will. This is the same word used in 2 Corinthians 5:20 and is translated as “ambassador”.
What exactly are the ways of God that we are sent to declare? In a society that is highly polarized on almost anything you can think about, we have two choices as believers: be on one end of the polarizations or live out the life of Christ as His ambassadors. Brothers and sisters, you will find out; it is a much easier road to live on either end of the polarizations. However, choosing to live out the life of Christ is not an easier road. In fact, it was never meant to be an easier road (John 16:33). If it was an easier road, we would have the entire kingdom of God fully populated and that of darkness depopulated.
Being an ambassador of Christ requires dying daily in other to live out this life we have in Jesus Christ. With the expression of death in Christ through water baptism (Romans 6:3-4); we have a new life that will be manifested through the choice to live out the new life or vice versa. The daily practice to choose the life of Christ above the dictates of the flesh or culture releases the power of the new life we have in Christ. Imagine, learning how to drive and passing the driving test to obtain a license, but you never actually drive in order to practice the driving skills learned.
God’s divine appeal mandates we live out the Christ life- authenticating our appointment as God’s representative on earth. This pleads and draws all those that are yet to know Christ personally, thirsting for the living water that flows out of us. I encourage you:
For The Cause of Christ,
Dr. Johnson Obamehinti
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (ESV).
You see God has given us a mandate as His ambassadors. An ambassador is a representative or envoy sent on a diplomatic mission. In the New Testament, the Greek word “presbeuo” is used by Paul the apostle to describe someone appointed by God to declare His ways or will. This is the same word used in 2 Corinthians 5:20 and is translated as “ambassador”.
What exactly are the ways of God that we are sent to declare? In a society that is highly polarized on almost anything you can think about, we have two choices as believers: be on one end of the polarizations or live out the life of Christ as His ambassadors. Brothers and sisters, you will find out; it is a much easier road to live on either end of the polarizations. However, choosing to live out the life of Christ is not an easier road. In fact, it was never meant to be an easier road (John 16:33). If it was an easier road, we would have the entire kingdom of God fully populated and that of darkness depopulated.
Being an ambassador of Christ requires dying daily in other to live out this life we have in Jesus Christ. With the expression of death in Christ through water baptism (Romans 6:3-4); we have a new life that will be manifested through the choice to live out the new life or vice versa. The daily practice to choose the life of Christ above the dictates of the flesh or culture releases the power of the new life we have in Christ. Imagine, learning how to drive and passing the driving test to obtain a license, but you never actually drive in order to practice the driving skills learned.
God’s divine appeal mandates we live out the Christ life- authenticating our appointment as God’s representative on earth. This pleads and draws all those that are yet to know Christ personally, thirsting for the living water that flows out of us. I encourage you:
- Be an ambassador of love
- Be an ambassador of peace
- Be an ambassador of grace
- Be an ambassador of joy
- Be an ambassador of compassion
- Be an ambassador of the word
- Be an ambassador of prayer
- Be an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
For The Cause of Christ,
Dr. Johnson Obamehinti
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