July 25, 2023 | Be On Mission
Ambassadors for Christ
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5(NIV)
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 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. 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. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Devotional
In the previous chapter, Paul called the human body a jar of clay. Here he referred to it as an earthly tent. These word pictures remind us that life on earth is temporary and uncertain, while our heavenly dwelling is eternal and glorious. Beginning in verse 6, Paul used the phrases “in the body” and “away from the Lord” to refer to life on earth. He then used the phrases and “away from the body” and “at home with the Lord” to refer to eternity in heaven. Read that paragraph again and ponder the deeper meaning.
Here’s the truth. God sees us from an eternal perspective. He desires for us to discard that old, dead way of life and see ourselves as the new creation He offers us in Christ. Beyond that, He calls us to participate with Him to spread that good news to others. Verses 19-20 make it clear: “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.”
How is this possible for the citizens of Corinth, a sin-infested, sex-saturated, idol-worshipping centerpiece of the Roman Empire? Did God really expect the Corinthian believers to be reconciled to God? Did He actually expect them to take that message to their corrupt neighbors, merchants, prostitutes, and pagan priests? Apparently so. Paul finished this chapter with a powerful verse: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (v. 21).
Jesus had no sin.
We had no righteousness.
He became our sin.
We became His righteousness.
Tell that to those among whom you live, work, learn and play!
Poem
Ambassador
Full citizen
True loyalty
Tested courage
Now sent
To foreign land
To unknown culture
To appeal
On behalf of
Christ
Full courage
True heart
Tested control
Now present
In the flesh
In the marketplace
In the palaces
On behalf of
Christ
Full creation
True from God
Tested trust
Now living
Rightfully minded
Rightfully regarding
Rightfully reconciling
On behalf of
Christ
