Ambassadors
READ
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul tells us that when we begin following Jesus, we are made into new creations — renewed by the work of Christ himself. And with that newness comes a new identity: we become walking ambassadors of Christ. Everything about the way we live shifts, moving away from the patterns of the world and walking instead according to the Spirit.
So what do we do with that?
Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 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."
REFLECT
For followers of Christ, this passage isn't just a title — it's a call to action. Paul is saying that because we have been reconciled to God through the work of Jesus, we are now called to live as His ambassadors. Not just in what we say, but in the way we actually live. Reconciliation is part of who God is; He is always working to make things right and draw His children back to Himself. And according to Paul, we get to be part of that — co-laboring with God in the very work He is already doing.
I found myself asking, "What does it actually mean to be an ambassador?" So I looked it up. Here's what I found: "An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat accredited by one sovereign state, serving as the official, resident representative of their home government. They work to promote interests, negotiate, and foster relations."
That's who we are for Christ — people who foster relationships and promote the kingdom of God. But I don't want to gloss over that phrase: highest-ranking. As our own Rick Shafer often says, when we are made new, we are rescued and resettled. We are adopted into a new kingdom, and with that comes a new citizenship and a whole new identity. That's not a small thing. Living from that identity is what makes being an ambassador possible.
And to be the kind of ambassador Paul describes, we have to actually know Jesus personally. Think about it — how hard would it be to tell a friend about someone you barely know? Now flip that. How easy is it to talk about a family member you've known your whole life? That's the difference Paul is pointing to. He begins this passage by reminding us of what God has done — He reconciled us to Himself through Christ. Then he holds up the cross as the clearest picture of what reconciliation looks like. And finally, he tells us that God now makes His appeal to the world through His people. Through us.
Paul walks us through the who, the what, and the how — and then hands us the baton.
This passage hit me in a convicting way. I can so easily forget that I'm not just a follower of Jesus, but an ambassador. I forget that my identity isn't rooted in anything this world has to offer — and when I forget that, I don't represent Him well. But here's the good news: again and again, God reconciles me back to Himself. He keeps bringing me back to rightness with Him. That's the beauty of it — we don't become ambassadors by being perfect. We become ambassadors by letting God keep doing what He does, and then living in a way that reflects that to the people around us.
RESPOND
Take some time to reflect on these questions:
Who is someone close to you that you need to be an ambassador of Christ to? Are you living in a way that you'd want them to associate with the character of Jesus?
In what areas do you need to know Jesus better so you can represent Him more fully? What are some practical steps you can take to grow in those areas?
REST
Take a quiet moment in God's presence. Consider one thing you want to carry with you from your time in His Word today, then close in prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I can play a part in your reconciliation of the world to yourself. Show me the areas where I need to know you better, so I can be a truer ambassador and co-laborer in your work. Give me the boldness to live the way you've called me to — differently, intentionally, and for your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Port City writer Ryan Baynard wrote today’s devotional.