Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
We are Christ’s ambassadors. Which means we represent God on this earth. It is our job as Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus to tell the world about the saving grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul telling Timothy,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Sadly many calling themselves Christians her in North America at least, act more like they are God. Judging the world around them. Something that is not theirs to do. Only God has the right to judge individuals or groups.
The apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
The way I see it the only time we have the right to judge anyone is to judge those who call themselves believers in Christ Jesus and are not handling the word of God correctly. At which time as Paul states we are to expel them from among us.
Billy Graham the late American evangelist stated,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                               Billy Graham.

Centuries prior to Billy Graham, Francis of Assisi wrote a prayer that everyone who calls themselves a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus needs to take to heart.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                     Francis of Assisi.

Please if you consider yourself a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus....
Think about it

Christ's Ambassadors

Christ’s Ambassadors
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham 
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
If there is one thing the Christian must remember is we are a holy nation. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth.
As Christ’s representatives we must live a life that is acceptable to God and show those around us the love of God.
We must as the apostle Peter states,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
The writer of Hebrews make a clear statement as to what Christians are to do saying,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14.

That means doing our best to live a life that show love and understanding to all men even our enemy.
There is a very famous prayer by Francis of Assisi that I believe we need to take to heart as Christians it states,

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                                                 Francis of Assisi.
As Christian travellers through this world this is what we should be doing. Living a life of faith, understanding and Love. Love as defined by the apostle Paul who said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                       1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Please if you consider yourself a Christian please look at your life and ask yourself am I living a life acceptable to God. A life that is holy. For as the writer of Hebrews states,

“Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Please think about it.