The gift was unexpected. It wasn’t a special occasion. My daughter handed me the bag, with the knowledge that I’d be delighted. As I lifted the adorable sock monkey out of the bag, I was immediately transported to my childhood.
We took our playing seriously. Stuffed animals came alive with a little imagination. Our favorite animals happened to be monkeys, and my brother and I built an entire imaginary world around these lovable, stuffed friends.
We spent hours coming up with elaborate schemes and plots that involved our furry monkeys. In our minds, they were witty sleuths able to catch the most sinister of villains. They jetted around the countryside on missions to wipe out evil. They were a force for good, and justice always prevailed.
Although I may not be a witty sleuth, it’s exciting to think that I’ve been commissioned as an ambassador with an important mission. An official representative of Christ Himself, sent to share His message with others. The Apostle Paul spells out this special mission, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:18-21; KJV).
The ministry of reconciliation. According to my dictionary, to reconcile, means to re-establish friendship between, to settle or resolve, as a dispute. My special mission, then, is to share with others the fact that God sent Jesus Christ to the earth to pay every man’s sin debt, and because of His sacrifice, we can have a relationship with a holy God if we personally accept the payment Christ made.
What an important mission! A mission that wipes out evil and establishes a relationship between a holy God and sinful man. As I share this message, there will be those who eagerly accept it, and there will be those who reject it. Regardless of the response, I’m to be committed to sharing this word of reconciliation with others.
Do you desire to be a force for good, vanquishing evil in this world, and making an eternal impact? What an opportunity to carry out an all-important, life-changing mission. Choose to be a productive ambassador for Christ, sharing the ministry of reconciliation with others!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for giving me an important mission. Help me to be faithful to share the gospel with those You bring across my path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
