Have you ever met an ambassador for a foreign country? I have not, but I have seen them on television and they are always treated like royalty. They usually have body guards because they are considered to be highly important people who are acting on behalf of their country on official business.
Dictionary.com calls an ambassador “a diplomatic agent of the highest rank” or “a representative or messenger.” The ruler of a country sends them to represent him or her. They travel on behalf of the one in charge.
2 Corinthians 5:20 says “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.” As ambassadors for Christ, it is our job to represent Him in what we do and say.
Many people call themselves Christians and yet live a very worldly life with choices that contradict what Christ stands for and represents today. They do not reflect Christ in their words or actions.
Christ Himself came to earth as an ambassador for the Father. He said we have seen the Father if we have seen Him [John 14:9]. In John 5:19 Jesus tells us He only does what He sees the Father doing. He served as a representative on earth for the Father. He reflected Him in what He did and what He said. Jesus was a true ambassador for the Father.
What about you? What do your words and actions demonstrate? No one expects you to be perfect. Christ would not have needed to come if we were capable of being perfect. Romans 3:23 tells us we’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We can, however, strive to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ in our actions and our words. We will mess up along the way. Even the Apostle Paul messed up [Philippians 3:12-14]. 1 Chronicles 28:9 tells us God searches all hearts and understands our intent. He knows when you are truly trying to be a good reflection of Him.
I’ve always told the students in FCA they chose to identify themselves with Christ, so they will always be a witness for Him to others. Whether it is accurate or not, others will make a judgement of what it means to be a Christian by the way they live their lives. They can determine if they are a good witness or a bad witness for Christ by the choices they make, the words they say and their actions. Either way, they will be a witness. The same can be said for all of us. What kind of witness or ambassador will you be for Him today?