2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Questions to consider:

• Describe Paul’s actions which commend him as (a) an ambassador and (b) a servant of God?
• How does one become the righteousness of God? What is the paradox involved?
• What trials have you experienced recently? To what extent have you endured?

Possibilities for prayer:

Ambassadors play a pretty important role in international relations. The person who serves as a nation’s ambassador is the person who represents that country and all it stands for--the nation itself might be judged based upon the words and deeds of the ambassador. In much the same way, we have an important role in conveying who Christ is and what He is all about as we serve as ambassadors for Christ. We should take note of our words and deeds, because we are representing Jesus to people around us, many of whom likely do not know Him. Today, let’s thank God for trusting us enough to be His ambassadors, and ask for the wisdom to do and say things well--that we might reflect just a little bit of the greatness, glory, and love that God is all about.