Becoming God’s Ambassador

God at the Centre

Wednesday, February 122 2017

“Becoming God’s Ambassador”

Matthew 29:19

                After Jesus rose from death, he commissioned his disciples

to make disciples of all nations. They went to Jerusalem and then in to all Judea and Samaria and ultimately around the world. Hesitation was on the minds of those first century Christians but Paul challenged them by truly devoting his life to traveling and proclaiming Christ. Paul traveled extensively and proclaim the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:19) Even Paul’s enemies had stated that Paul had saturated the provinces. Paul wanted to expand his travels to include those who were in power. He wanted to reach the entire known world for Jesus.

                We are God’s ambassadors and our vision should also be to win as many people to Jesus as possible. Evangelism is not an option even when people misunderstand what this means. Telling others about Jesus is evangelism.

                When we are new believers we are so excited to know Jesus and we are willing to tell others. Yet as we grow in faith our complacency seems to grow as well. Sometimes our hearts grow hard and we may be cynical. Jesus challenges us, “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”John 14:12.  We must remember this challenge. God did not intend for us to sit and do nothing. He wants us to plan so that these dreams will come true.

                What is your unbelief in God- that is what do you not know about God? Confess this and say, God, renew my vision of your power. Renew my confidence in your abilities. Renew my trust of your resources. Renew and build my faith.”

                One can only imagine if everyone in the world heard about Jesus and then committed their lives to him. This would be great but the work never ends—the next generation needs to do the same! We need God to move us into compassion for others.- individuals who do not know Jesus. We can talk about the crowds of thousands who need to hear Jesus’ story, but what about the person down the street?

                The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:17) God and do the work of Christ, become God’s ambassadors for life and for the sake of those whom you meet.

REFLECTION

Have you ever told anyone your faith story? That is, when you came to understand and believe, when you accepted Christ as Saviour, when you were so excited that you had to tell others?  Try it. Sharing the good news as you have experienced it is what is at the heart of evangelism. Tell your story and those listening will respond with questions and prayerfully with willingness to follow Jesus.

PRAYER

Holy One we praise you and thank you for Your Son who loves us and calls us to be his disciples where we live and around the world. Show us your way O God and as to what to see and say, what to do and pray as we reach out to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This completes this series of Reflections on Luis Palau, “God at the Center: Habits for Spiritual Growth” ODB Ministries, p.27-32.