Ambassadors are diplomats that represent their home country in a foreign nation or international organization, such as the U.N. and NATO. The role of an ambassador is to maintain diplomatic relations, promote their country’s interests and ensure the security of their citizens living in or visiting that country.
Similarly, Christians are to be diplomats representing Christ and His Kingdom in this world. In prayer to His Father for the disciples, Jesus said, “I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” - John 17:14. Christians are not of this world but are in this world to be ambassadors for Jesus the Christ to the next generation of believers.
God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors. – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20. Paul was very much a diplomat wherever he went. In Athens, he said – As I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an Unknown God.’ - Acts 17:23. In Corinth, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul said, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Ambassadors meet folks where they are with sensitivity to foreign beliefs and practices that may be different from their own. Sensitivity does not imply acceptance of, nor compliance with. It reflects a sincere effort to connect with and gain understanding of the person’s belief system. Then, as an ambassador of Christ representing the Kingdom, one can promote Jesus’ interest in their eternal security.
Dads are the primary ambassadors to the next generation of believers. The ambassadorship begins with dad’s personal, passionate and growing relationship with Jesus the Christ being lived in marriage every day. When the home becomes an embassy for the Kingdom, the family and friends in their circles will be introduced to the ministry of reconciliation and the love of Christ.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your Word and Your heart for reconciliation. I confess that the guilt of worshiping other gods clouded my understanding of the grace You extend. Forgive me. Thank You for reconciling me to You through Jesus the Christ and giving me the ministry of reconciliation. Grant me strength to be an ambassador for You in my home, my church and beyond. That is the dad You call me to be, and that’s the dad the next generation needs. Amen.
A faithful father is an ambassador for Christ to the next generation.
