March 27: Ambassadors for Christ
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:11-32
From the cross, as Jesus was dying on the cross between two thieves, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus, who taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us, practiced what he preached.
In the model prayer Jesus gave us, he taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). He tells us that if we refuse to forgive others, then we will not be forgiven by our heavenly Father (Matthew 6:14-15).
When we come to worship, he told us that if we know another person has something against us, we should “leave [our] gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to [the person], and then come and offer [our] gift” (Matthew 24).
Forgiveness is essential for those of us who claim to believe in Jesus and that we have been forgiven. The forgiveness we receive enables us to offer forgiveness to others. This is not only a command, it is essential for experiencing peace and reconciliation in our lives – both with God and others.
In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.”
Failure to forgive leads to bitterness, alienation, cycles of conflict, and misery. Forgiveness defeats pain. It can heal both the forgiver and the forgiven.
What a magnificent calling we have as “Ambassadors for Christ.” Paul tells us that we are new creations because we’ve been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus. We are forgiven. We’ve been made new! Because God is still in the business of reconciling people to himself, he’s given us – each and every believer in Jesus – the ministry of reconciliation.
God is making his appeal through us! We have the privilege to be witness of all Jesus is doing. We have the honor of living our lives as forgiven people and telling our stories of God’s reconciliation to others, imploring them on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God!
Sometimes the idea of telling a person about the gospel or Jesus seems so daunting. What should I say? How do I share? What if they ask a question I can’t answer? But all of us have a story to tell. God did not call us to be lawyers for Jesus – arguing people into God’s kingdom! He didn’t call us to be salesmen for Christ – trying to convince people to get the extended (eternal?) warranty! He called us to be witnesses – telling people of what we’ve seen and heard and all that God has done to reconcile us to him! All of us can do that!
As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” We don’t have to work to be good enough for God, as Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now we are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19) and God “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3).
This is the message to which we bear witness. This is our reason for the hope we have. Though we are “jars of clay”, we bear witness to the surpassing power of God as he transforms us into the image of Jesus! We have been forgiven and set free, now we offer that same reconciliation and hope to others!
Questions for Reflection
Reflect on Jesus’ words of forgiveness from the cross. The prayer was certainly directed toward those who had conspired to crucify Jesus, but perhaps they were words of prayer for all whose sin sent Jesus to the cross. What is it like to hear Jesus say “Father, forgive them” to you?
The ministry of reconciliation has at its heart forgiveness and reconciliation between God and humans. Why is that a hard message to share with others at times? How can you overcome your hesitancy in this area?
Who is one person you could witness to regarding God’s forgiveness in your life? Pray and look for an opportunity to share your hope and your reasons for it. Ask God to help you be his ambassador!
Readings this week:
March 28: Leviticus 23:26-41; Revelation 19:1-8
March 29: Leviticus 25:1-19; Revelation 19:9-10
March 30: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Luke 9:10-17
March 31: Isaiah 43:1-7; Philippians 2:19-24
April 1: Isaiah 43:8-15; Philippians 2:25-3:1
April 2: Exodus 12:21-27; John 11:45-57
April 3: Isaiah 43:16-21; John 12:1-8