Ambassadors

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Paul tells us in today’s key verse that we are ambassadors for Christ. What does this mean? We speak on the Lord’s behalf. Now, this is not to say that the Lord can’t make Himself known or speak for Himself, but He’s given us a purpose. We aren’t here just to take up space until the world ends. We’re meant for more.

As we’re waking up and understanding the calling on our lives to be ambassadors for the Kingdom, to carry the message of hope, we must address our doubts. We discussed this in one of our previous devotions about how we often feel unqualified. We wonder if we can really be trusted with such a responsibility.

Here’s the truth of the matter: there is no one more qualified than you to carry the message.

You might not believe that. Nevertheless, if you are a child of God—adopted, set apart, chosen—you are qualified. By logical means, it sometimes appears that we are not equipped for Kingdom work because of our past or even because of our present circumstances, but that’s the mystery of how God works. He uses the unusable.

By the world’s standards, perhaps you feel that you can’t change the world because you work a dead-end job, or you’re shy, or you’re extra extroverted and you think you’re too much for people. On the contrary, friend. You’ve been given permission to change the world, starting right where you are.

Many people in your life are not going to step foot inside a church and hear a pastor preach the message of hope. They’re skeptical, and they don’t trust a pastor or a church. But you have a relationship with the people in your life. You have more trust from them because they already know you. Therefore, you have a way to reach people in a way that others can’t, because your circle is different from anyone else’s.

The moments you live in between your salvation date—your new life date—and your death date are the most important moments of your life. Those in-between moments are where you live out your mission and your ministry.

Stop doubting that because of your personality, your past, or your circumstances, you’re not qualified to carry the message. He’s already chosen you to do it. He’s given you His credentials, and He’s branded you with His Spirit by whom the demons flee and tremble.

You have the authority. Jesus told His disciples, “Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you” (Luke 10:19). As you go, remember that you carry an authority that raised Jesus from the dead—a Spirit whom even the demons flee.

Unqualified? Not at all, friend. Not in the least.