COMPELLING CALL
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)
Everyone is invited. Everyone.
Paul reminded the church at Corinth that we, God’s people, are the primary way God works in this world. God makes His appeal through us. He does this in at least two primary ways. First, He reveals who He is by transforming our lives (how we think, what we value, and the nature of our hearts). Secondly, He uses us as His mouthpiece. Our lives and our words are His public announcement!
The Bible word for church is Ekklesia, which simply means the called out ones. The church is not a building or a program. It’s not an event or a religion. The church is a group of people who’ve been called out to tell the world that Jesus has come and that new life is available to everyone. God desires that we would become people who bring love and hope to a lost and dying world.
Britannica defines an ambassador as the highest-ranking person who represents his or her own government while living in another country. That’s us! As followers of Christ, we are representatives of God. We have been entrusted with sharing the greatest news ever. Paul went so far as to plead for people to come back to God.
Most people feel inadequate to tell others about Jesus. Yet God calls us His ambassadors. May we be like the servant who followed Jesus’ command to go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame (Luke 14:21b NLT).
APPLICATION:
Be present with people today. Resist feeling rushed to get to the next thing. Ask God to give you wisdom and discernment in how to help people feel like they matter.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Father, for the people You’ve brought into my life who have helped me grow in my relationship with You (pause for a moment and thank God for individuals by name). I pray You’d cultivate in me such a heart for others that I couldn’t wait to share who You are and what You’ve done. I want to be a faithful ambassador for You and ask You to give me the opportunity and words to help others come back to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?