Being an Ambassador

At Coram Deo, we are still going through the book of Colossians.  Each sermon basically focuses in on a few verses at most.  After 7 weeks, we are at Colossians 1:19-20.  It is amazing that if we just took some time, reading and studying the Word, how you can take a single verse or a few verses, and have enough information to make an entire sermon.  That just blows my mind, seriously. The Bible is incredible.  Way to go, God!

Anyways, this past week's sermon (looking at Colossians 1:19-20) really convicted me.  But not in a negative way necessarily.  Of course, no one likes being reminded and humbled by the recognition of their own sin, but instead of feeling guilty and discouraged by this conviction, I left feeling more inspired and determined than I have felt in a long time.  I was encouraged my the word's that God spoke to Will.  I was encouraged by His Word through the book of Colossians.  I was encouraged by the reminder that God invites us all to be convicted of sin and therefore transformed by the Holy Spirit and willing to be an ambassador of reconciliation.  

The sermon reminded us that:

1. God is Author -->  He created the world and He created it good and perfect.  Creation is not an end, but a means of praise and glorifying the Creator.  We should find joy in our surroundings, not because we should consume ourselves in the, but so that we can worship God.  Even after the fall, creation- including human beings- remembers deep down what it/we were made for.  We long for something greater than our current reality.

2. Jesus is the Agent -->  By everything being reconciled by the blood of the cross, God was making peace.  God is Holy and just.  He could not overlook sin and not have sin paid for.  To make peace and out of His love, he placed the punishment of Sin upon Himself and upon His Son, Jesus Christ.  In that very moment when Jesus was murdered, God's wrath ended.  Why then do we still so often find the need for revenge? bitterness?  For not forgiving those who have sinned against us?  God's wrath ended and He was graceful.  All anger was poured out on Jesus and this was God making PEACE.  How come we still so frequently feel the need to sin against those who have wronged us when Jesus ended that war.  It makes no sense for us to try to find Justice with revenge when God, who IS justice, already evened things out. PEACE. PEACE. PEACE.

3.  We are the ambassadors -->  God created us in His image.  Our identity is as an ambassador for reconciliation and for the Kingdom.  But, God doesn't force us to be ambassadors.  He invites us to be.  He doesn't NEED us.  He is almighty and whatever he wills WILL be done.  But, there is still something so beautiful and enticing about the fact that he continues to woo us into the story of rebuilding the Kingdom; Being reminded that we were created for a much greater purpose and we can (and will) return to our original state.    He knows that in the end, we will find the most joy and happiness with Him.  He is doing this through us at all times and with the gifts he has given us.  By looking at your gifts, whether shepherding, leading, teaching, serving, hospitality (and much MUCH more), God is using you to not only fulfill YOUR TRUE IDENTITY but also so that HIS KINGDOM WILL BE RESTORED.