Bible passage: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NLT “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”
When I first read this passage, I thought that God’s expectation of me as His ambassador was to convert as many people to Christianity as possible. And because I didn’t have a long list of people I felt I had converted to Christianity, I started feeling inadequate as a Christian. I felt that, on that final day, I would be judged mainly on the number of people I brought to Christ. This misunderstanding allowed the devil to seize an opportunity to accuse me and make me feel inadequate as a Christian.
One thing I have learned about the enemy is that he is quick to accuse, aiming to exploit feelings of inadequacy and discourage us from continuing our Christian journey and growing closer to God. He often twists the word of God, as he did when he tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) and deceived Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1–7). The only way we can combat this is by having a true understanding of God’s Word with the help of the Holy Spirit and through consistent Bible study (Ephesians 6:17). I almost fell into the trap of condemnation, but then God used my husband to remind me of the parable of the lost sheep.
In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus says, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
This passage liberated me from the shackles of condemnation by teaching me two significant things:
- The message of reconciliation is not just for non-Christians but also for Christians who have lost their way. This means that helping struggling Christians with their faith is just as important as spreading the good news to unbelievers.
- Every single person means the world to God, so being involved in reconciling even one person to God is a huge deal and a cause for celebration.
Another clarifying passage is Mark 16:15, which says, “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” This passage clarifies that as christians we have to speak (preach) to our neighbours to try to reconcile them to God, but whether they decide to repent or not is not controlled or determined by us. Only God can use the good news to change people’s hearts and reconcile them to Himself. While we can plant the seeds by spreading the Gospel, only God can make them grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
Our task is to spread and preach the good news, trusting that God will use it to transform hearts and bring reconciliation. Let go of the burden of feeling responsible for the outcome, as it is solely in God’s hands. Embrace the joy of sharing the liberating message of the Gospel, knowing that each act of obedience has significance.
By understanding our role as ambassadors of Christ, we can embrace the truth that God’s gift of reconciliation is not limited to converting non-Christians. It extends to helping fellow believers who may be struggling with their faith. Every person holds immense value in God’s eyes, and participating in the reconciliation of even one individual is a cause for celebration.
Finally, I strongly encourage you to seek a genuine understanding of God’s Word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and diligent Bible study. This will equip you to recognize and counter the enemy’s deceitful attempts to twist the Word of God. Break free from the notion of personal inadequacy and embrace the joy of being part of God’s redemptive work in the lives of others.
