"Ambassadors"
"We are ambassadors for Christ" (II Corinthians 5:20).
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ represent Him. This is particularly true for those called to preach and teach the Gospel. Whether by the pulpit or the pen, those sent by God to communicate His truth must always remember and affirm their responsibility to "preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:4).
Scripture indicates that Lucifer ("Lightbearer) played such a role before he fell. His very being consisted of precious stones (Ezekiel 28:13). This implies his calling to absorb and reflect the light of God, which he did "until iniquity was found" in him (Ezekiel 28:15). Somehow Lucifer came to believe the Light shining in him originated with him. He rejected the truth of ambassadorship and representation. He sought to be light in and of himself, and to draw attention away from the One he existed to glorify and reveal. "I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14). The constituted the greatest of impossibilities, which led to darkness in Satan's being, and darkness he seeks to disseminate to all others. This being true, we would expect the devil to tempt preachers and teachers with the enticement to use their calling as a means to attract attention rather than direct all honor and focus to the only One worthy of glory. This the devil does, and this we must realize in order to overcome his distraction and deception.
We do well to build and often visit within our hearts an altar of prayer for those called to communicate the Gospel. This applies to every believer, of course, and particularly to preachers and teachers. Our spiritual enemies incessantly work to hinder the Light by exalting the light bearers. No one is beyond the possibility of such darkness tempting us to forget our privileged responsibility to honor only the Most High. We do well to pray that God's glory will so fill our hearts and illuminate our minds that any notion of seeking attention and glory for ourselves dissolves in the bright light of our Lord's surpassing wonder. The Psalmist well knew the calling, the temptation, and the need to frequent the altar of prayer whereupon we seek to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ alone…
"Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth's sake!"
(Psalm 115:1)
Weekly Memory Verse
We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
(Ephesians 2:10)
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