Qualities of a Great Ambassador

What a joy and privilege it is to come together in the Lords House on The Lords day to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Once again, I have been blessed and challenged by the teaching of Gods Word this morning. The sermon message was a continuation from last week focusing on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 as our Pastor today talked about the characteristics that will mark our qualities as a Great Ambassador.

The three main points from the message were:

1. Integrity of the Messenger
   As a messenger - or an Ambassador, we must go about our daily business, being who we say we are and it is not enough for us to just know this, but to live it.  In Galatians 2:20 we read that "it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me". In practical terms, that means to live a life that is not only impacted by Jesus Christ but also controlled by his love (2 Corinthians 5:14), been transformed by the renewal of our minds and by presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1-1)
   
   
2. The Integrity of the Message
   As important as the integrity of the messenger is, the message itself cannot and must not ever be compromised.  We are warned in Galatians 1:8-10 against preaching a wrong gospel.  We need to get the message right lest we are accursed. Romans 5 shows us how we can have peace with God: Vs 8 "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" and vs 11 "More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation". As pastor was preaching we were reminded that it is by grace through faith that we are saved and not of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8) and I recalled a few lines from the old hymn "Rock of Ages" -  "Nothing in my hand I bring....Simply to the cross I cling"
   
   
3. Incredible Intimacy
   How much does God love us?: "God shows his love for us in that while we are still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) and we are now implored to be reconciled to God so that "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Being an ambassador for Christ will mean carrying the message and living a life "rooted and grounded in love...and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God". (Ephesians 3:14-19)

This is living "Corem Deo" - to the praise of his glory!