Approaching the USA’s 247^th, I groan over the lack of elder statesmanship in our country – statesmanship that could lead us to unify in the power and grace of humility, stating only the truth, repentance and forgiveness, and sacrifice for what is righteous in God’s eyes. But it’s one thing to look at this temporal kingdom of man, and quite another of much greater magnitude to look at the Kingdom of Christ as it appears around the world in His Church.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Christians are called Ambassadors for Christ.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

There are surprises both in the context of this verse and in the word for ambassador that is used by Paul – Paul, a preeminent elder statesman in Christ’s Church who stands shoulder to shoulder with Peter and the other Apostles.

The first surprise is how gritty the context is for Paul’s declaration of our appointment to statesmanship in Christ’s Kingdom.

Here in chapter five of 2 Corinthians Paul speaks of having courage with groaning in an earthly tent. In chapter one, he confesses to despairing of life; in chapter four, of being afflicted, perplexed and knocked down; in chapters 6-11, he speaks of the horrors of his earthly pilgrimage; and in chapters 10-13, he reveals his struggle to deal well with criticism. But, in a life colored with so much pain, weakness, sorrow, and brokenness, Paul also speaks with seasoned authority a truth we need to hear.

What is that truth that reveals the secret of Paul’s role as an elder statesman in Christ’s Kingdom – of being knocked down but not out?

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

In these verses, Paul speaks out of his extremely difficult life and enduring personal weakness. He declares with peace in his soul what Christ spoke to him. In the same way, we too can be true ministers of reconciliation if we ourselves are first reconciled with God in the worst that life has for us.

We too can be true ministers of reconciliation if we ourselves are first reconciled with God in the worst that life has for us.

How blessed to be called an Ambassador for Christ alongside a man like Paul! With him we are called to gritty courage so that we can walk by faith with Christ in carrying HIS message of reconciliation with God into our world.

The second surprise in 2 Corinthians 5:20 is the word Paul uses for ambassador.

The biblical word for ambassador is presbeúō (πρεσβεύω), often used in the New Testament to refer to the elderly or mature. Perhaps you recognize in this word the basis for our understanding of presbyters, or elders that often are appointed to help lead a church.[1]

The ambassadors of Christ Paul speaks of are not appointed by God because there young or strong in body and mind, but are those the younger believers hope to become in their walk with Christ. They are those who takes their role as a representative of Christ very seriously.  They think about it and grow over time to excel in it.

The word presbeúō points to those who are trusted to carry out faithfully Christ’s will in Christ’s way. They’ve been seasoned by life! It points to someone that others might say this about: “I see Christ in you, and I hear His words in your words. I trust His heart for me, because I trust your heart for me.”

To be called an ambassador for Christ is not our call to make because we find it hard to dream of fulfilling that role as well as, let’s say, Paul filled that role. And yet, the Holy Spirit inspiring Paul DOES call us ambassadors. It reflects God’s amazing belief that we will be able to reflect the Christ and even speak for Him at times, especially since we are being seasoned or matured by the rough edges of this life we live (Romans 8:28-30).

Brothers and sisters, I can’t speak to what is needed for true statesmen and stateswomen to emerge in this country, but I can speak to what is needed for the same in the Church.

It is to declare with Paul that God’s grace is sufficient and that Christ’s strength in us is perfected on the perilous way of suffering. It is to say with the urgency with which God speaks through Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20. Be reconciled to God in this! God not only infinitely and with the greatest of love wants reconciliation with this world, but He also with that same urgency wants US to be fully reconciled or walking in harmony with Christ in taking that reconciliation message to the entire world.

We have been transferred from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son (Colossians 1:13; John 5:24). Now, as citizens of heaven, have been temporarily assigned as ambassadors to represent King Jesus in this dark world until He personally returns.

Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said that the qualities of a diplomat are “sleepless tact, unmovable calmness, and a patience that no folly, no provocation, no blunders may shake.” That only comes with testing, or seasoning by life.

Let us get out of bed and be on our way in this calling. And may the beauty and grace of humility, holding to truth, forgiveness, and sacrifice for what is righteous in God’s eyes come to be a mantle of glory that rests on all we say and do.

“A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31

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[1] Acts 20:17-18, 28 NASB95 – “From Miletus he [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders [presbyterous, πρεσβυτέρους] of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them…’Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.’”