The Role of an Ambassador

I don’t know any political ambassadors, but I have always thought the job would be pretty easy. You live in a nice embassy, represent the country at major events, have a lot of dinners, play a lot of golf. I suppose it might be much different than that but I’ve always thought it would be a nice job. Did you know that the follower of Jesus is called to be an ambassador…for Jesus? At the end of chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes this: 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

The follower of Jesus is a representative or an ambassador for Jesus. The analogy goes further when you consider that the Bible teaches that the follower of Jesus is like a stranger in a foreign land. I want to emphasize that there are two things an ambassador does (besides playing golf and going to dinner parties). First, an ambassador represents his/her country by the way he/she acts. We represent Jesus by how we live our lives. Second, and just as important, we represent Jesus by how we talk. It is not enough to simply say, “Well, I just live my life and people know I am a Christian and that’s enough”. No, it’s not enough. An ambassador speaks. An ambassador tries to help people understand his/her country’s point of view. As an ambassador you and I must engage people in conversation about Jesus. Walking the walk AND talking the talk are job requirements for the position of ambassador for Jesus. Let’s get to work as ambassadors for the King of kings.