Live as an Ambassador

“Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.”  (1 Peter 2:12 HCSB)

Peter’s letter to suffering Christian’s is one of my favorite in the bible. In it we hear the now wise Apostle Peter urging believers to hold fast to the faith and to glorify God with their lives.  He reminds them they are strangers in this land.  He reminds them there will come a day when Christ will return and we are to look forward to that day.  He also gives them strong words to live by to protect from the world around them.  The Roman world was an evil place.  From the top down everywhere a Christian went they would face the challenge of not compromising their beliefs. 

Peter doesn’t tell to blend in and become like the Romans.  And he doesn’t tell them to draw attention to themselves and bad mouth the government.  In those times that could get one killed, but he tells them to live honorably.  He encourages them to live in such a way they will have to glorify God.  In others words when they compare their lives to yours they will have to acknowledge God and give him praise! 

Today we live in an ever changing world and it is difficult to see some of these changes.  The world around us is becoming increasingly “ungodly” in that many live their lives without even acknowledging God exists at all.  This reflects in all levels of society and we have to pass more and more laws to govern the masses.  It’s easy to become discouraged in this as a follower of Christ.  But we have to remember this is the world Christ died for and he has placed us here now, in this time for the purpose of displaying Christ to this generation.

I recently read a post form a pastor I know and he said, “God is all powerful, all knowing and ever present.  Live like a person convinced of this truth.”  I think we lose sight of who we are and what we are here for.  I think we lose sight of the God we serve.  We are not here to uphold a nation or a politician we are here as representatives of the King of kings, we are ambassadors to an eternal kingdom.  We need to start living in light of this truth and represent our King honorably.  We need to live to bring glory to Him and our future home.    By "living kingdom minded" we can be used by God to show his love towards those who don’t know him.  Live your life in such a way that when the people in your life examine your life (and they will) they will want what you have.  They will want the fruit of peace, love, kindness, self-control, patience and joy that is displayed in your life.   The time is short and when Christ returns let us not be found living like the people around us, but let us be found living for Christ and his glory.             

~PS