September 18 | 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
DAILY READING
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
REFLECTION
Go Get Your Passport
By Gene Pierce
Like our other readings this week, today’s passage tells believers that we have become a new creation, the old has passed away. In today's scripture, Paul tells us God had entrusted him with this message of reconciliation as an ambassador for Christ. And we know from Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19 that we are commissioned as ambassadors as well.
So what does an ambassador do? An ambassador is an advocate for and representative of their home country to a foreign country.
A U.S. embassy abroad will have pictures of the sitting President along with purple mountains majesty, amber waves of grain and fruited plains. Maybe even pictures of baseball, apple pie and Chevrolets.
And an American traveling abroad on July 4th could go to a U.S. embassy and find fireworks and a party in honor of our Independence Day. (On the other hand, you won’t find Fourth of July parties at a British embassy!)
As ambassadors for Christ not a country, we are to represent the Lord to the “foreigners” around us: our families, friends, co-workers and neighbors.
We fulfill that assignment through the things we do and don’t do, and the words we say and don’t say.
There’s always a time in a conversation or a relationship when sharing the gospel can be done with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15).
The Book of Acts details how Paul “read the room” to share different lines of thought in presenting the gospel to different audiences.
Without saying a word, our life can reinforce the gospel message with self-sacrificing love, integrity, faithfulness.
Though we may never see the results, we all can be effective and persuasive deliverers of God’s message of reconciliation -- and worthy ambassadors in service of our home country.
So get your passports out every day, friends, and wade into the world around us as an advocate for the world’s true ruler, Christ Jesus, our Redeemer. It’s our job!!
PRAYER: Lord, make me a better advocate for you and the gospel of reconciliation, by the way I live and the things I say, to lead others into your oasis on the dusty caravan routes that we all travel. Help me, because it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that this is possible. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gene Pierce is a longtime member of UALC and our International Missions Committee and former Council member, still learning how to balance life, work and faith. Gene and his wife Elaine are blessed to be parents of four and grandparents of nine.
Making your prayer my prayer--- getting out my passport.
Gene you “pierced” my heart today with your devotion. I want to be a better ambassador for Christ and follow God’s will for my life. Thank you for your devotion. God Bless you!
Great explanation of that verse.
Thank you, Gene, for providing great inspiration to start my day as an advocate for Christ!