What Ambassadors Do

I don't often think about my nationality, but when I do, it's usually because I'm in a foreign country. Oddly enough, the first time I thought about the fact that I'm an American was the summer I spent in Poland. For the first time, I felt defined by a culture, and it forced me to think about citizenship and culture in a new and different way. I realized that summer that I am a representative and ambassador for the United States, but I also learned that my primary citizenship is in the kingdom of God and that I'm first and foremost Jesus' ambassador. 

The word ambassador has a Latin origin that means servant or minister. If we are in Christ, we are His servants and as such, His ambassadors to the world. 

According to the US Department of State's website, there are three main purposes for ambassadors:

• Protect Citizens
• Support Prosperity
• Work For Peace

I would argue that servants of Christ do these same things. It might look different, but followers of Christ have similar purposes:

Protect Citizens
Ambassadors for the United States of American make sure that the citizens of the USA are safe in foreign countries. When I spent a summer in Poland, we had to inform the US embassy that we would be there for our safety.

Followers of Christ are responsible to protect other followers of Christ. We remind each other where our true citizenship is, and it's with the Lord in His kingdom. We protect each other from the dangers of sin by pointing each other back towards Jesus and the gospel and speaking the truth in love. 

Support Prosperity
Sending ambassadors for foreign nations opens up the door for more opportunities for trade and travel between nations. This ultimately supports prosperity for a nation.

Ambassadors of Christ support prosperity but in the sense that more people learn about the kingdom of God. Ambassadors of Christ represent Jesus and encourage others to learn more about Him and to even join His kingdom. 

Work For Peace
The cornerstone of what ambassadors do is work for peace between nations, particularly peace concerning terrorism, human trafficking, and the drug trade.

Followers of Christ work for peace as well, but primarily the peace that comes when others are reconciled to God through faith in Christ. In representing Jesus, believers also work for peace in the same ways that ambassadors work for peace, but we do so because it brings glory to God. We work for justice when it comes to human trafficking, racial inequality, or making abortion illegal because God made mankind in His image. Therefore, every life is sacred and important, and we desire to see every life valued. 

Being an ambassador makes me think of being a disciple of Christ in a different way. I am ultimately Christ's servant, follower, and disciple, but I also get to be an ambassador for His coming kingdom. If you are a follower of Christ, you get to be an ambassador too. 

This post is part of a 31 day series called Seeking the Kingdom.
​You can view the rest of the posts from the series here.