Slideshow image

When Jesus died on the cross, He proved God’s love for the world, for every single one of us. Not counting our mistakes and our sins against us, He has reconciled us to God, with love and compassion. He entrusts us. He believes in us. He sees potential in us to make a difference; to be His light and life in this world.

Scripture reminds us that we are ambassadors or representatives of Christ, following His way of love that transforms lives with humility, generosity, kindness, love, and service. We are image-bearers, reflecting His love.

I was deeply touched by an article I came across recently, during a random, unrelated Google search. A group of children’s responses to the question “What is Love?” may just give us some ideas on how to be Ambassadors of Love.

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend you hate.”

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it, but if you mean it, you should say it a lot because people forget.”

Author and Lecturer Leo Buscaglia once shared about a contest he was asked to judge, where he was to identify the most caring child in a classroom. The winner was a 4-year-old boy whose elderly next-door neighbor’s wife had recently died. After seeing the man out in his yard crying, the little boy went over to see his neighbor who was sitting on the porch. The little boy climbed onto the man’s lap and just sat there. Later, when his mom asked him what he had said to their neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing. I just helped him cry.”

That, my friends, is what being an ambassador is all about! It’s often in the little things- the simple gestures of showing people we care- of taking time to look folks in the eye and letting them know that they matter, that their stories are important; that they are seen and heard.

Let it be so, dear Lord. Let it be so.

For the love of Christ controls us … If anyone is in Christ, they are new creations. The old has passed away; the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we are Ambassadors for Christ.
(From 2 Corinthians 5)