The story goes like this —
The problem was huge. It looked like there was no way that Barb and Bob could ever be on speaking terms again. Yes, there are always two sides to every story – this one too. One side of the story is Barb did absolutely nothing to cause the aggravation. She was generous and kind to a fault. That's one side. The other side of the story is Bob was so selfish! He rudely and defiantly did what he did and went out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Barb obviously couldn't ignore what Bob did; it was such a destructive act! She went to work and thoroughly dealt with the problem he left behind. But she didn't stop there. She sent her friend Tom down to the dingy old apartment where Bob had been staying ever since it happened. Her message to Bob through Tom was: "Come home. The welcome mat is out. The door is wide open. A hug awaits you. Don't be afraid. I've looked after it all. Come home now."
When you woke up this morning, did it occur to you that, like Tom, you too have a role to play in delivering an important message — albeit a message far more amazing and of far greater consequence than the one from Barb — and on behalf of someone far greater than Barb?
The case in point is no longer about a breakdown in horizontal relationships here on earth. No! Of far greater significance is the broken relationship between God and humans. And you have a role to play on behalf of God! Yes, that’s quite a responsibility but also quite an honour!
The Apostle Paul recognized the purpose for which he had been saved. He wasn’t in a dither each day as he went about his morning routines – wondering why God left him on the planet. He was here primarily to represent Heaven’s interests. He had been entrusted with the greatest of all messages:
"Come home. The welcome mat is out. The door is wide open. A hug awaits you. Don't be afraid. Christ looked after the great problem of your sin. He "made peace through the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:20 The barrier has been removed. God wants you to return and come home now."
Here is the Apostle Paul’s job description, mission and charge as a Christian:
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself… and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore 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. 2Corinthians 5:18-21
Yes, God uniquely assigned to Paul and the other Apostles the message of reconciliation to take to sinners everywhere. But He expects all of us to be ambassadors representing the King of Heaven (so to speak) with the good news of reconciliation —the Gospel. He expects us to lovingly plead on His behalf with people wherever we meet them to be reconciled to God through Christ.
Picture yourself on a bent knee before a sinner, pleading with her to come to Christ. The verse says, “God making His appeal through us.” God longs for sinners to be reconciled to Himself, and we are to convey to people, on His behalf, just how much He wants the sinner to embrace Christ and be saved/reconciled.
Don’t live a sloppy, unfocused (or wrongly focused), careless or carefree Christian life with a low-level purpose. See your role as an ambassador, representing the King of kings, bringing the best possible news to people living dark, hopeless lives as guilty offenders, aliens and fugitives.
Read the “Celine Dion and God” story here.
Live today in the dignity of why God saved you – to represent Heaven on earth. You can do this over coffee, on the bus, at a neighbourhood event, online, in the cafeteria or office, in a prison or from a pulpit.
Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you – in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.
