In 1785, John Adams, one of the first U.S Ambassadors, received the call to go to London to present his credentials to King George III himself. This request was not for the faint of heart as he faced the King against whom the Americans had declared war. Despite this divide, both men were amicable and respectful to each other. The King went so far as to tell Adams he had not consented to American independence but accepted it.
Although he considered the initial meeting a success, Adams was less successful in other negotiations with the British. For almost three years, he navigated the difficulties of diplomacy but felt he did not achieve enough when returning home. Regardless, his investment of time and effort set the foundation for establishing a roadmap for future foreign relations.
Ambassadors act as the diplomatic representatives of their country on foreign land. As such, ambassadors are the highest-ranking representatives of their governments abroad. Their primary role is to represent and work on behalf of their government’s best interests or head of state. Most importantly, ambassadors are not elected but instead chosen by the government or head of state.
As representatives of Christ, we, too, are called to be ambassadors in a foreign land. This title requires us to interact and live in the world while also adhering to God’s rule. These instructions seem challenging to carry out at times, as it can be difficult finding the right balance when the world seems to contradict so much of what God’s word says. Yet, Paul advises the Philippians not to live as the world does because “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
Read:
Read and meditate on John 15:16.
Pray:
Pray and ask God to remind you of your true citizenship and mission.
Meditate / Make It Real:
Continue to pray the verse and meditate on the thought: How are you representing the best interests of God and His kingdom?
Share / Show:
Share what you’ve learned with someone else.
