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.”
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 spells out the standards of diplomacy between independent countries. It contains a slew of special rights given to those who are officially on diplomatic status in a foreign nation, most notably, the right to what is commonly referred to as diplomatic immunity. These standards, ratified by nearly every nation on earth, form the foundation of international relations.
The Vienna Convention, though, does not only spell out the special rights of diplomats. It also outlines their unique responsibilities, the first of which comes from Article 3. A diplomat is responsible for “representing the sending State in the receiving State.” This simple provision reminds all in the diplomatic corps that they are to act as representatives at all times and in all ways of the nation that sent them. They are expected to do so brilliantly, as a model to all who witness them, through good times and especially through challenging times.
We are Ambassadors for Christ, equally responsible for representing the One who sent us to the foreign world around us. The simple verse of II Corinthians 5:20 reminds all who take on the name of Christ that we are to act as representatives at all times and in all ways of the One who sent us. We are expected to do so brilliantly, as a model to all who witness us, through good times and especially through challenging times like those we face today.
PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST IN A WAY THAT PROPERLY REPRESENTS HIM, ESPECIALLY IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. Are we properly representing the sender?
Please see the following link for a related previous thought:
Ambassadors
