“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” –2 Corinthians 5:20a ESV

Ambassadors. As a result of the fact that we are new creations in Christ (v17), are reconciled to God through Christ (v18), and are ministers of the message of reconciliation (vs 18-19), we are ambassadors. That is what the therefore is there for.

An ambassador is a government official living in a foreign country in order to represent his or her home country, government, and ideals. God calls us ambassadors as we live in a world that is not our home. We represent God’s kingdom. We are royal ambassadors, so let’s just do our best.

While we most often think of the term ambassadors in this official capacity, the basic meaning of the word is simply this: “an authorized representative or messenger.”

And this is truly who we are in Christ. As disciples, we have been authorized to represent Him and share His message.

Everywhere.

There are two very important truths that we need to embrace in order to be the ambassadors God has called us to be. First, we need to understand that God has already sent us. If you have been reconciled to God through your faith in the completed work of Christ, you are His ambassador.

Right where you are. Embracing this truth will change your perspective. Why do you go to the school that you go to? Is it because you live in a certain neighborhood? Is it because that school offers the degree you wanted? Were you attracted to a campus due to the football team or the girl/guy ratio? All those things could be true, but the big picture tells us that God placed you at that school (no matter how you think you got there) in order for you to represent Him there.

Let’s go even deeper. Why are you in that particular English class at that particular hour? Is that how it worked out with your schedule based on your electives, activities, and course requirements? What if God worked in sovereignty to put you in that class at that time as an ambassador? Why are you on that team, on that squad, in that band, in the school play, or involved in whatever it is you have a passion and talent to do? Could it be that God gave you that talent and that passion in order for you to represent Him in that arena?

This is how God works. He places us as ambassadors and authorizes us with the most important message of all time. You are already sent.

The second truth of our ambassador status is this: God also wants to send us out. Verse 19 of 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself. So this is much, much bigger than your team, your class, your activity, and your school location. Being an ambassador means engaging the big picture of God’s purpose to reach every nation, tribe, and tongue.

This is why we go to the ends of the earth. We are His ambassadors and He sends us out with the message to people that have literally never heard it before. We don’t have to pray about whether or not God wants us to go. We are ambassadors.

So what if you aren’t going anywhere anytime soon? Look around you. You have already been sent. But at the same time, stay engaged with the global mission. Did you go overseas back in high school or back in college or last year? Pray strategically and faithfully for the work and the workers in those places. Are you giving directly to support the work of frontline missions? The Bible directly connects our giving with our passion. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). You can give directly to missions through your local church and you can give to frontline work through iGo. Giving sacrificially will help you stay engaged as an ambassador to the nations even when you aren’t getting on an airplane.

Because of Jesus, we are ambassadors. Where and how will you represent Him today?