Ambassador

Just got back from 10 days in Lima, Peru visiting my mom and stepfather. Yes, they do live there. My mom as a bilingual ex-pat does make some interesting friends. One of the highlights of our trip was an invitation to a private party at the home of long-time Australian ambassador John Woods, who at this time was winding up a 41 year career in that role as ambassador to Peru. Mr. Woods and his wife Gay were incredible hosts. They brought in a renowned guitarist Scott Borg to play at the party (see brief video below). They were very friendly in a natural way. We felt like we had known them for a long time. As it was Debsue's birthday, they made her feel even more welcome.


A Christian is an ambassador for Christ. (2 Cor. 5:20). An ambassador is a representative. As a representative, he/she is a reflection of who they are representing. Imagine if Mr. Woods blew us off at the party or was gruff in his demeanor. That would have been representative in a negative way of Australia, his representative country. Or imagine if they had brought in some cracker-jack performer to come in instead of Scott Borg. We might have concluded that Aussies have not sense of music.

I sometimes wonder if I use my sinful nature as a defense. Yes, I am sinful but I am still a representative for Christ on this earth. I am sure that Mr. Woods could have had a brutal day, but you would never know it. How poor is it when those who name the name of Christ defame His holy name. Thinking of myself as an ambassador helps to frame how important it is to represent well. And the good news is in myself, I can only be a poor representative, but Christ as who I represent lives through me. Mr. Woods represents a country. I represent a living person who lives within me and through me.