Ambassadors are the highest-ranking, appointed diplomats that represent a country. They are normally appointed by a president or an organization to serve as the official representative and spokespersons for their country. Sometimes countries also appoint highly respected individuals as Ambassadors at Large. These people are given specific and temporary assignments to tackle. Historically, the ambassador is a permanent citizen of his own country, but also a resident representative of the country where his work is being conducted.

In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Corinthians and reminded them that they were Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). They were ambassadors by appointment, for they didn’t earn their title by personal merits or by their own strength. The grace of the Sovereign God of heaven brought them to Himself through Jesus’ work on the cross. The result was new life and a message of reconciliation to share with others.

This meant that they should only say what God had given them to say. It was not about their own agenda. The message was clear: “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them” (v.19). God provided a way for people to be restored to Him. He made Christ the offering for our sins so that we could be made right with God.

Paul wanted the Corinthians to realize that as ambassadors they were citizens of another world—heaven. So they were resident representatives on earth, reflecting the King of glory with their words and their lives. As Jesus-followers, we’ve been given the awesome responsibility to be ambassadors for Jesus in our world. Let’s represent Him well as we tell others His message.