25 Oct November 5th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHRIST’S AMBASSADOR

2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Imagine you were appointed by the President of the United States as an ambassador to a foreign country.  You would serve in that country as his personal emissary, delivering his messages, speaking to its leaders as if the President himself was present.

You are an ambassador.  No, not of the President of the United States.  You are Christ’s ambassador. (2 Corinthians 5:18)  He has given you His message and sent you out not to just one country but literally wherever you go to speak His message of love, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and joy.  His well-known commission is found in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

You do not represent the President of the United States.  You do represent the Son of God who is ruler over heaven and earth.  While the President of the United States has great power and authority, it pales in comparison to that of Jesus who has all power over heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18)

You are God’s co-workers. The Scriptures urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says to you, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Until reading this verse you may not have considered yourself a worker for God.  But both here in 2 Corinthians 6 and in today’s devotional verse in chapter 5 it is clear you have been given God’s message to deliver to the world.  Paul’s words in chapter six show the urgency of your delivery of this message, “now is the day of salvation.”

Not knowing the time when God shall bring this world to an end, every day is precious.  Every opportunity for you to tell someone about Jesus as their Savior from sin is critical.  It may be the last opportunity they have to hear that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.

Prayer:  Help me Lord through the power of Your Holy Spirit to, as Your ambassador,  speak Your message of hope and salvation.  Amen.

Lord, whose love through humble service

Bore the weight of human need! Who upon the cross, forsaken,

Offered mercy’s perfect deed, We, Your servants, bring the worship

Not of voice alone, but heart,

Consecrating to Your purpose Ev’ry gift that You impart.

Still Your children wander homeless; Still the hungry cry for bread;

Still the captives long for freedom; Still in grief we mourn our dead.

As, O Lord, Your deep compassion

Healed the sick and freed the soul,

Use the love Your Spirit kindles Still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision, Till Your love’s revealing light

In its height and depth and greatness,

Dawns upon our quickened sight,

Making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear

Stirring us to tireless striving, Your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to Your service, Forth in Your dear name we go,

To the child, the youth, the aged, Love in living deeds to show;

Hope and health, goodwill and comfort,

Counsel, aid, and peace we give,

That Your servants, Lord, in freedom May Your mercy know and live.

(LSB 848)