A Crucified Life - - Is An Ambassador For Christ

 

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4243

Ambassador: to be the elder, to take precedence

From the Greek word 'presbeuó' (pronounced pres-byoo'-o): a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God's emissary (represent His kingdom).

Used twice in the New Testament; both times by Paul, as here in the letter written to the church in Corinth. The second time was in a letter to the church in Ephesus: Ephesians 6:20 "For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should."

    2 Corinthians 3:6 says God has made His ministers fit, qualified, to speak the gospel, "He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life."

    In the Old Testament God's authorized emissaries were His priests and His prophets, His messengers. While this verse in Malachi is a warning to God's priests, it also serves as a reminder to us of who the messenger is representing and speaking for.

>Malachi 2:7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts."

    As an ambassador for Christ, this messenger can only speak what the Spirit speaks to her, to me. I never know until the morning of what the message is going to be. I usually am given the primary Scripture(s) a few days in advance, but not what the Spirit speaks. 

    It's called Daily Bread for a reason. Just enough at the beginning of the day to get us through that day. Though we hunger for more, we are given enough in each day to feed our souls and our hearts. And what we are given we are prompted to share with others, that they (you), too, would receive a blessing from God in the Word. 

    May you receive such a blessing. 

    As an ambassador for Christ, my life must mirror His. Daily I am given not only a Word for myself and others, but I must take up my cross. I must surrender what I want and desire each day to what God wants and desires for me. I must bring my body into submission to His Word. The stronger our relationship in Christ with God the greater our desire to see God's desire fulfilled. And the less we have any inclination to give into life's little temptations. Oh Lord, let this my prayer be: draw me closer. 

FERNANDO ORTEGA's GREATEST HITS - One Hour of Beautiful Music