Through You

I am so glad Jesus came and died for all the sins of the world. I am so glad that He broke the power of sin over you and me. I'm also very glad that with His infinite love, God poured out grace and mercy on us. Through Christ Jesus, God's only Son we are forgiven of our sins. Forever and ever we will dwell with Him. What a deal! Only through Jesus can we obtain this indescribable gift from our God.

Not only will those who accept His sacrifice (Jesus Himself) dwell with Him throughout all eternity, but we become His ambassadors right here, now...on planet earth. "Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20) 

I noticed something very interesting here. Paul says "...we beg you...be reconciled to God." Why is Paul begging the Corinthians to be reconciled to God? So they would go to heaven? Not necessarily. Was it so they would not go to hell? Not really. It is quite clear. Paul is begging the Corinthians to be reconciled to God through Christ so they would become ambassadors for Christ. You see, a genuine relationship with Jesus is more that an assurance you and I will go to heaven (and not to hell). Thank God for that fact. But according to Paul, we become ambassadors for Jesus, as though God Himself were entreating through us.

How can anyone live a mediocre, lackluster life if God Himself were entreating those around them to come to Jesus? Think about that one. If I am a born again, spirit-filled follower of Jesus, I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ. God Himself is entreating the world to come to Him......through me! Wow! When you look at it like that it lights up some stuff many folks don't realize.

Can I be satisfied with a couple of hours of church each week? No. Can I be satisfied having a regular, consistent quiet time? No. I must present myself, outside of my comfort zone, in ways through which God can entreat others to come to Jesus through me. You and I must seek out ways to serve others. We must listen to the hearts of others and seek to minister Jesus to them. To accept Jesus, and sit back and wait until we get to heaven just might not get us there. Or it might cost us some rewards! The following Scripture passage has been controversial, but it has a distinct meaning. If it were one to ignore, Jesus would not have said it:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23) According to Jesus, to disobey Him is to practice lawlessness. One who is unsaved practices lawlessness. (Keyword - lawlessness)

Listen to the positive. We have the right and the authority to be ambassadors for Christ! 

What could be better? Nothing! It is our choice. The choice we make will affect our eternity one way or the other. As Paul did in 2 Corinthians, I beg you to come to Jesus. Become His ambassador. If you already know Him, know that you are His ambassador. Allow God Himself to draw others to Jesus through you. Don't sit back and wait for heaven, or for...

Also study Matthew 25:34-40.

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