God’s Ambassadors

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“For although I am free in every way from anyone’s control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].” 1 Corinthians 9v19 (AMP)

Paul here is expressing the fact that he was not a slave to anyone, but for the sake of bringing many to Christ, he became a slave. As believers, we know there are two destinations – heaven and hell. But God does not want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3v9). And so, we who have been saved begin to persuade and beg others. We know that the day is coming when every argument, knowledge, opposition that they have to the Word, to Jesus, to the Gospel will cease to hold ground. 2 Corinthians 4v4 (NIV) tells us “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” But God continues to use us, who are the trophies of Christ’s victory to “spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume” (2 Corinthians 2v14, NLT). 1 Corinthians 15v8-11 (NIV) says “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others….”

Supplementary Text

“But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration of favor). So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5v18-20 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for the salvation of our souls. O God, we pray that You will send labourers into Your harvest for the harvest indeed is plenteous and the labourers are few. Father we pray for friends and loved ones that are still arguing against the truth, please open their eyes that the light of the gospel may shine to them. All this we pray in Jesus name, amen.