II Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Washington DC is home to over 160 foreign embassies, many of which are clustered around Massachusetts Avenue NW in an area known as Embassy Row. Many of the world’s nations are represented here, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Sightseeing in this portion of DC is wonderful, as these structures are often magnificent. After all, the mere sight of these buildings is a visual depiction of any entire nation. What we see determines what we think about what they represent. Each nation realizes that our quick glance may be their only chance to make an impression upon us. They want that impression to be overwhelmingly favorable.
The people who work in these diplomatic missions have been handpicked. Like their buildings, these individuals represent their nation. They are sent to be a substitute for an entire population. Every interaction is important, and so they pick only the best to be their ambassadors. Our impression of their country hinges upon our impression of a single encounter with a single individual. They are ever mindful of that weighty responsibility.
Christians are Christ’s ambassadors, sent to a foreign land on His behalf. What others see in us determines what they think about what we represent. Every interaction is important. The impression of the world about Christ hinges upon their encounters with us. We should want that impression to be overwhelmingly favorable. Every encounter is important, and we should be ever mindful of that weighty responsibility. After all, we have been placed here in Christ’s stead.
PLEASE PRAY THAT EACH AMERICAN CHRISTIAN WOULD REPRESENT CHRIST WELL. As Christ’s ambassadors, we have a weighty responsibility to attract others to His magnificence.
