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2 Corinthians 5:20a – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. (ESV)
Wikipedia describes an ambassador as a person who represents an entity and does so in a positive manner.
Almost half a century ago, I was a senior financial officer of a major corporation. On my way in to a presentation in the board room, I looked quite concerned as I was thinking about what I was going to present.
The president stopped me and said, "What's wrong?" After I assured him that all was well, Carl said, "You can't walk around looking so disturbed. You represent the financial strength of our company. You must always look happy even if you don't enjoy what you are doing."
When I shared this memory with one of the staff where I am privileged to live, I pointed out how our staff members always seem to be smiling. Jassy has a particularly charming smile, and even though masks have prevented seeing the actual smile, the sparkle in the eyes reminds us that it is still there. Certainly, the smiling staff are good ambassadors for the owners, even when they may not feel like it.
We are now allowed to remove our masks as we eat in the dining room. Eileen stopped at my table and told me how inspired she was every time she saw my smile. I was humbled and realized that I was privileged to be an ambassador for Christ, showing His love to others, regardless of how I might feel at the time.
It amazes me to think that God allows ordinary people doing simple things to be His ambassadors.
Great church leaders like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, William Booth, and Billy Graham were great ambassadors for Christ. They were powerful leaders and speakers who led thousands to the truths of the gospel, and we thank God for them.
But just think: doing simple things, in a quiet way, such as giving a smile to indicate that we are rejoicing in all circumstances, can put you and me in the category of His ambassadors.
Fortunately, He is the ultimate strength and can help us to move forward positively.
Ephesians 5:1-5 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (ESV)
Prayer: Dear God, we are amazed that You give us the privilege of being Your ambassadors. In the smallest of actions, help us to be faithful in sharing Your loving kindness so that we may lead others to You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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Thank you for your devotional today.
Thanks for the encouragement, Vince.
Thank you, a most timely reminder, just when I needed it.
Very inspiring message for us all, thanks and blessings Vincent!
Thank you, Vincent, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Keep smiling as we keep praying! Blessings.
Vincent,
I am encouraged by your writing. What a privilege to be an ambassador for Christ. Thank you for every devotional that you write. Many blessings.
Dear Vincent,
Thank you so much for your inspiring, beautifully written Devotional. It has encouraged me. I feel blessed.
Blessings.
Thank you, Vince,
I always enjoy your messages and today’s really resonates. It takes so little to smile, but what energy it can generate!
Blessings.
Hello Vince,
Thank you for this morning’s devotional. Yes, there are so many ways we can be ambassadors of our loving Lord. It is amazing how something as simple as a smile can be an enlightenment to another soul we meet. Blessings for your writings.
Good morning Vince,
I like the way you share an experience from your career and bring it up to date with a contemporary situation. I’m sure you are an inspiration to the staff.
Blessings on your day.
Thanks, Vincent, for reminding us that we ARE His ambassadors at all times and even our smile is a ‘gift’ to be shared as a witness. We have good reason to have joy in the midst of trials…although I believe in being transparent and when in grief, for instance,
tears can be shed as Jesus did when His friend Lazarus died.
Thanks for sharing and encouraging us!
Dear Vince,
What a great devotional this morning. It was well-written with an excellent illustration and application. Robin must have been proud of you! I thought even a little further about what a negative testimony scowling, complaining Christians are. Even worse are the ones who — during this fractured, political time — show more devotion to their “cause” than to Christ.
Blessings to you.
Thank you ever so much Vincent. I so very often feel I fail to express my Christian faith and my love for God to others. I just don’t know how it seems. Your encouragement to just smile and show you care about them and for them is something I feel I am able to do and have always tried to do. Your encouragement and assurance that that is important for us as Christians to do and sharing this gospel message with me is just awesomely helpful. Thank you so much!
Good morning Vincent,
I have a poem called SMILE over my bed. When my younger brother (by 16 years) was learning calligraphy, he wrote it out for me so I could frame it and have it. That was over 40 years ago, and I still see it every day and it reminds me the importance of a smile.
The thing that goes the farthest
Towards making life worthwhile.
It costs the least but does the most
Is just a pleasant smile.
It is full of worth and goodness
And genial kindness blent
It is worth a million dollars but doesn’t cost a cent.
Your boss did you a great favour to show you the value of a smile and you are a great ambassador with all your positive and uplifting messages which I appreciate and enjoy immensely. Thank you. May many smiles come your way today.
Thanks for this reflection, Vincent. I’ve been thinking that ‘ambassadors’ is a better framework for cultivating faith than ‘disciple’ these days. We have a message to carry/represent/suggest. It’s the message of the triune Creator’s forgiving and reconciling love in the Creator’s Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, for the whole world in all of its complex interdependencies. For Canadian Presbyterians, as stated in Living Faith, the passage you’ve chosen for your pondering today is the great affirmation of the core of the gospel. Blessings in your ambassadorship, one smile and conversation after another.
Blessings.
Dear Vincent Walter,
I always like reading your devotionals. However, I am a bit curious as to your list of great Church leaders.
“Great church leaders like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, William Booth, and Billy Graham were great ambassadors for Christ. They were powerful leaders and speakers who led thousands to the truths of the gospel, and we thank God for them.”
I don’t suppose you are aware of Pope John Paul II who besides being a very holy man started the World Youth Days which were open to all Christian youth, not just Catholics. These events brought together thousands of young Christians from all over the world to rally for Christ and praise and honour Him. And what about Mother Theresa, who founded the Sisters of Charity? Her order of nuns cares for people literally picked up from gutters. Which of the leaders you mentioned has ever done this?
So again, just curious how these two names did not make your list.
(Ontario)
Good Sunday Morning,
Thanks for your wonderful devotional yesterday.
Have an amazing week ahead.
Thanks for another great devotional. I was asked one time if I ever stop smiling, which I took as a compliment. The Lord has so blest me that I pray I reflect His love. God bless you.
Hello Mr. Walter:
I wanted to express my appreciation for today’s devotional about being Christ’s ambassadors in the world.
I sometimes think we fail to see the impact we have, and can have, on others around us, thinking ourselves as insignificant in God’s grand plan. Yet we are charged to change the world, and that world is immediately in front of us. A smile to the cashier at a store, a vocal appreciation of someone’s act of kindness, or their attire, an apt comment that brings chuckles to a room full of people waiting for an appointment, all these things spread the joy of Christ in a world that seems to have forgotten to smile.
May God bless you as you bless others.