What does it mean to be an Ambassador of Grace? What is grace, exactly? A simple definition is: receiving what you do not deserve. It’s so closely related to mercy, which is not receiving what you do deserve. Romans 5:8 shows us an example: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is amazing grace. This is divine mercy. Why would He make such a sacrifice? John 3:16 explains: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it? The one, true God of the universe desires to be in relationship with us for all eternity. How are we to respond to such lavish grace? Pass it on!
Those of us who believe in Jesus instantly become His apprentices. Our spiritual gifts and character are sharpened as we study under Jesus and practice living as He lived. We are also His ambassadors, representing His Kingdom here on earth. Through us, He relentlessly pursues lost souls and works to achieve His purposes on earth. God doesn’t need us to accomplish His divine plan, but He chooses to work through us.
There is a great deal of work to be done – many lost and hurting people to reach, and we each have a role to play in reaching them. Did you know we are strategically placed? God has orchestrated each of us to be in just the right spot at just the right time to be a light of comfort, encouragement, rescue or support for another person. These divine appointments are coordinated for us almost every day, sometimes with big needs we can address, and sometimes with opportunities for simple acts of kindness. But each appointment is divinely planned to positively influence a life for Jesus Christ.
From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
“For I know the plans I have for you,“ declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Stepping out in faith and obedience to keep these divine appointments can be difficult, certainly inconvenient, but also uplifting, rewarding and full of blessings. In Lloyd John Ogilvie’s devotional, God’s Best for My Life, he describes how the first step is the hardest.
The story is recorded in Joshua 3. Joshua has just taken over after Moses died. Talk about big sandals to fill! It must have been overwhelming. His first real test comes when the people of Israel are camped out along the Jordan River preparing to cross over and claim their promised land. Just a few problems though … it’s Spring, the river is at flood level, and the current is swift. How will they get across? God chose this time to demonstrate His power.
God told Joshua to have the priests (who represented the 12 tribes of Israel) carry the ark of the Lord into the river. Once the soles of their feet touch the water, God promised to roll back the river so the people could pass through. That’s quite a promise! And the priests held the key to realizing it:
All they had to do was get their feet wet! They had to take the first step into the Jordan River, and then the Lord would roll back the waters so the people could pass through. The first step was the hardest; the Lord did the rest.
How like life! The Lord wants to do tremendous things in our lives, but He graciously gives us the opportunity of participating. He wants to know how serious we are about crossing our Jordan River and claiming the promised land He has prepared. There is no limit to what He can do if we will dare to get the soles of our feet wet. Imagine the trust and commitment those priests had to have to take that first step!1
And what happened next in the book of Joshua? The walls of Jericho came tumbling down! God can do impossible things – immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)!
So, when we look out at all the brokenness in our world and think it’s too big for us, we must not be immobilized with fear. Instead, we must take that first step, believing God for His miraculous provision. The first step is the hardest, but remember, we don’t have to do it all. We just have to get our feet wet and God will do the rest. This is what it means to be an Ambassador of Grace.
Ambassadors of Grace are attentive to the needs of others; they are available; they act!
Have you heard the expression, “salt of the earth”? Jesus called us salt of the earth. What does it mean? According to Dictionary.com, salt of the earth means “an individual or group considered as representative of the best or noblest elements of society.” That’s what we are! We are the best and noblest elements of society, representing Jesus.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
So, how do you represent? Has your salt lost its saltiness? Are you letting your light shine before others?
We should not ask, “What is wrong with the world?” for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, “What has happened to the salt and light?”
Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.
God is searching for willing ambassadors to spread His grace where He knows it is needed most. Start small. The first step is the hardest. It’s time to get our feet wet!
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1Excerpted from: God’s Best for My Life by Lloyd John Ogilvie. Copyright © Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97408. www.harvesthousepublishers.com