Ambassadors on Assignment

As Christians, a beautiful part of our redemption is that God adopted us into His family. We are His children and citizens of Heaven. Through that adoption, He has made us heirs to His Kingdom. Our transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light was a supernatural event that could only be accomplished through the Blood of Jesus (Romans 8:16-17; Philippians 3:20).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6, NKJV).

The blessing of our salvation didn’t end with spiritual adoption papers, however. God also chose us to fulfill an incredible assignment as ambassadors for His Kingdom (2 Corinthians 3:6, Romans 8:30, 1 Peter 2:9). We not only belong to God, but we also represent Him to the world. It’s our life’s assignment.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT).

An ambassador is a representative of one country to another. Working at the embassy, they keep the relations between the two countries peaceful. They conduct government affairs and aid their countrymen within that country. They also have specific, detailed roles dependent on the country’s needs. It’s a huge responsibility, but the country they represent always backs their position.

Representing the Kingdom of God is also a big responsibility, but it’s not without God’s power and authority. The moment we were born again, God authorized us to utilize His authority in the earth. This authority is not over people, but over the devil and his agents (Luke 10:19). While spreading the good news of the Gospel, we dismantle the plans of the devil to control and harass the world. Jesus outlined our assignment through the Great Commission:

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18, NKJV).

This is God’s assignment for every Christian. Like an earthly ambassador, we represent God when we preach the Gospel, baptize new believers, cast out demons, speak with new tongues, and pray for the sick. These attributes should be our lifestyle, regardless of whether we’re in full-time ministry, preaching from a pulpit, or traveling the world doing evangelistic crusades. Whether at the grocery store or the auto repair shop, we are His representative wherever we go.

 

Our Assignments

Also like an earthly ambassador, our life’s commission comes with instructions and assignments appointed specifically for us. These come in the form of who we marry, what jobs we take, and where we live. Every life-altering choice affects our role in the Great Commission. When we’re born again, our lives are no longer about us, but about Jesus and the people He’s called us to reach. Everything we do impacts the kingdom of God and the people around us. If we’re not where God needs us to be, doing what He’s called us to do, we won’t reach the “countrymen” we’re called to reach. It’s all about God’s purpose being fulfilled through us (Psalm 138:8)

Years ago, I took a clerical job at a large company in the Texas Panhandle. The job did not come without its challenges. I worked with unsaved, unprofessional coworkers, and cranky bosses. I was tempted to quit, but I knew in my heart that wasn’t God’s will for me. One day an employee unexpectedly dashed to my desk with a scribbled note in her hand. It was a cry for salvation. I led her to Jesus that day, and as a result, her whole family received Jesus and started to come to church with me. Had I jumped ship and aborted God’s ambassador assignment for me, none of that would have happened—at least not through me.

This is why it is so important to consult God in every life-altering decision we make. Before we change jobs, move to another town, or get a college degree, we need to hear from God, so we don’t upset His plan. Even in the smaller things that seem insignificant, we need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit about what He wants us to do. Going to the wrong place at the wrong time could cause us to miss that individual He’s assigned us to minister to.

For instance, someone who worked at the mall wanted to buy one of my books. Though I physically and emotionally didn’t feel like going, I sensed that I needed to take her that book that day. When I got there, I anointed her and her shop with oil and blessed them. Then she surprised me by asking me to take the book to another shop owner who was closing her doors and needed encouragement. So I took the book to the other woman and anointed her as well. I went home to get another book for the first store owner, and when I returned, the shop owner’s sister was there and needed prayer. Again, I anointed her with oil and prayed for her. Was this timing a coincidence? No, it was a God-assignment. As His ambassador, He had assigned me to be there that day to minister to these ladies, one whom I may never see again.

The principle is, that what may seem like small decisions (like where we go to lunch or what store we shop at) can affect individuals who need what God has given us. Rather than “leaning on our own understanding,” we need to acknowledge God “in all our ways” so He can make even our daily path straight with ambassador assignments.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT).

I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course (Jeremiah 10:23, NLT).

 

Our Perfect Example

As God the Father’s ambassador to earth, Jesus set the perfect example. He made it clear that He understood His calling and purpose, and it wasn’t to do what He wanted to do. His purpose was to follow the will of His Father. He wouldn’t do anything unless he saw the Father do it.

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (John 6:38, NKJV).

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel” (John 5:19-20, NKJV).

God the Father even ordained Jesus’ timing for fulfilling His purpose. God had a specific time for all the Messianic prophecies to be fulfilled concerning Jesus’ arrival on the earth. And even when Jesus was on the earth, God would give Him instructions on what to do when. Those instructions and that timing were the orchestration of a bigger plan than even the prophets knew about.

As followers of Jesus, we should follow His example by submitting our assignment and its timing to the God who commissioned us (Ephesians 5:1, 1 John 2:6). Jesus is our perfect example, but many others in the Old and New Testament fulfilled their call. It wasn’t always easy, and they made mistakes. Many of them—like Jesus—laid down their lives for the cause. But because they diligently followed their call, they earned the rewards of someone who completed their assignment.

God loves the entire world and won’t give up on them just because a Christian fails to fulfill their assignment. God will assign the call to another believer who will complete the task (Esther 4:14). But the original Christian who doesn’t stay on track will lose rewards in heaven (Matthew 25:28-29, 2 John 8). They won’t experience the joy on earth of ministering to others. Our greatest desire, however, should be to fulfill our assignment and hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).

 

Conclusion

Surrendering our decisions to God in every area for the sake of our assignment may sound controlling and restrictive. But we must remember that God the Father bought us with a great price—the life of Jesus.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV)

Though God gave us a great responsibility, He also handed us a great honor. It is a privilege to serve and represent Him and His Kingdom. We may think it an honor to be asked by a king or president to be on their staff. But how much more of an honor is it to represent the God of the Universe? Our God has not just assigned us with an earthly responsibility but with an eternal one. He has assigned us specifically where we are because He wants us to reach the people where we are for the sake of the Gospel. The Body of Christ needs us. This unsaved generation needs us. God has called and anointed us to be in this place, at this time, for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).