2 Corinthians 5

Here we find one of the most well known verses in the Bible: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come" (vs 17). Paul is summarizing in one sentence what he said in the first five chapters to the Romans—those who are justified by grace through faith are set free from the bondage of sin and death, to walk in newness of life in Christ.

Well part of this new life in Christ is that we are entrusted by God with this thing called, "the message of reconciliation." That's just a fancy way of saying "the gospel." "Reconciliation" means that through Christ's death on the cross our sins have been forgiven by God, so we are no longer separated from him—the debt from our sin has been "reconciled."

So Paul says that because God has entrusted us with the gospel, we are ambassadors for Christ. An "ambassador" is a respected person, trustworthy and knowledgeable, who is authorized by someone to speak on their behalf. God has called us as his ambassadors, to represent his kingdom by making known to the world the gospel of reconciliation through Christ.

Have you ever thought of yourself as God's ambassador? For us the word "ambassador" carries a sense of honor, dignity and responsibility, and that's just when we're thinking of someone representing a mere mortal. How much more so for someone representing the God of the universe! But that is what he has called us to.

Try thinking of yourself not just as a child of God, but as his ambassador here on earth. Imagine the affect it would have on you to live as though you know you are representing God.