Ambassadorship
Whilst we are in August and the middle of the summer holidays, I just wanted to give us some encouragement for the summer, around what it might mean to live on mission.
I cannot think of a better individual, that we could just have a quick snapshot of, than Paul and I want to highlight what he writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-20:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself and not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
So, it is with this verse that I want to encourage us, as we consider what it means to live on mission over the summer.
First of all, let us remember to pursue operating in the context of our very complex current culture. Like Paul, we need to be able to say, “Lord guide us, help us, give us strength, give us wisdom, so that we can identify with those individuals that He has put before us and called us to love.
Secondly, I want to encourage us all to pursue shalom! Let us ‘pursue’ the peace of the Lord and ‘’offer the peace of the Lord, as we engage with our local communities and all those individuals that the Lord has put around us.
Finally, I want us to be mindful of the call to be truly rooted in our ambassadorship. May we know that we are not Jews or Gentiles, nor are we going to be defined by who we want to be Prime Minister or whether we are politically ‘left-wing’ or ‘right-wing.’ We are all ambassadors of Christ! What does this mean for us? I believe it means that we act accordingly, helping people understand that our allegiance is not to earthly trappings or earthly things, but that our allegiance is to Jesus, our Lord and King
During these summer weeks, can I encourage us all to rest, relax and enjoy the gift of this season, as well as encouraging us all to pursue the path of ambassadorship and to live on mission in this cultural moment.