by Sherry Chamblee
As Christians we’re supposed to be in the world, and not of the world. But too often we’ve concentrated on NOT being OF the world, and ignored the requirement to be IN the world.
This has meant that we set ourselves so far apart that we hardly know anyone who NEEDS a godly influence. All our friends are just like us. All our friends believe like we do, talk like we do, look like we do, act like we do. For the most part, this is natural. But aren’t we supposed to be Unnatural as Christians?
We’re supposed to know someone who needs God, right?
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
So if ALL things are of God, then that friendship with your coworker should be bringing that coworker closer to Christ. That person you see each week on the bus, that doctor and nurse you see while you’re in the hospital, that McDonald’s cashier who just served your food – they all should be brought closer to Christ because they saw you today.
Everything you do should be ‘of God.’
We are ambassadors. Ambassadors get out there and make nice, right? They represent their country, they do whatever they can to create diplomacy between the two nations, and they do what they can to encourage understanding.
That’s our job, too. Be an ambassador for Christ, not a hermit.
The Christian, as an individual, should be an influence wherever they are. The workplace should be different because Christ is there in you. The church should be different because Christ is there in you. The PTA meeting should be different because Christ is there in you. Your daughter’s parent-teacher conference, your son’s soccer game, your husband’s work Christmas party, your family’s holiday meal – all should be different because Christ is there in you.
Even the way you walk your dog down the street every morning should show Christ.
If all things are of God, then it’s possible for all things to be different because God is in it – where you are.
That’s being a full-time ambassador for Christ.
About the Author:
Sherry grew up in various cities around northern and central California. This gave her all sorts of stories that sat and festered in her brain, waiting to be let loose. She eventually went to college in Wisconsin, where she met her equally frenetic husband, Rich. They have six (yes, count them) children, two dogs and a cat, and currently reside in a madhouse in the southern California area. As a family, they enjoy being active in their local church. Sherry spends her time writing when not caring for Granny, the kids, the dogs, the cat and any number of strays in the neighborhood.
Sherry Chamblee can be found at http://www.sherrychamblee.weebly.com Or check out her books at http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Chamblee/e/B00BA06RJ2/