Lent
February 27, 2020
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. –2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Ambassador from the Greek presbeúō (a verb derived from presbys, “an older, venerated person”) …. (“act as an ambassador”) means to act as an established statesman (diplomat) – a trusted, respected ambassador who is authorized to speak as God’s emissary (represent His kingdom) ….
This term is used in the ancient phrase, … as someone respected as trustworthy (loyal, knowledgeable), especially in the opinion of those they know (belong to)*.
English Ambassador**
1: an official representative of a sovereign or state: such as
a: a minister of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign
b: a minister of the highest rank appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment
2: an authorized or appointed representative or messenger
Who do we represent? Whose message are we carrying to others? I am probably a news addict, an inherited trait from my parents. We watch the news four times a day. Most times the information was the same from morning to noon to evening to night, but now and then new news sprang forth. The news has spoken a lot recently about USA Ambassadors who were forced to discern to whom their allegiance was pledged to the country represented by the Constitution or to the current President. According to the Constitution USA Ambassadors are appointed by a president and serve at the pleasure of the current President. They, however, make their pledge to upholding the Constitution. Sometimes they must choose which master they serve.
Christ followers find themselves in the same circumstance at time. We pledge our allegiance to God through Christ and are called to spread the good news of Christ as we seek to reconcile all people to God. We find ourselves in a divided world where Christ followers have differing interpretations of exactly what that good news is. Perhaps we need to work at reconciling ourselves to each other and with Christ to prepare us for sharing God’s good news.
[Jesus] knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. –Matthew 12:25
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we allow ourselves to be led astray by outside forces that wish to concur us by dividing us. Weave us together, Lord. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/4243.htm
**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/ambassador
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.