Now then we are ambassadors for Christ

I'm reading an excellent book on Christian ministry by Paul Tripp called Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change. The author reminds us from 2 Corinthinans 5:20 that we are called to be ambassadors for Christ (see passage below). The implications for an ambassadorial life are tremendous if we would take the time to think about them. Here are a few I've thought of:

1. The ambassador is not the king.                                                                                                                                                                                  He doesn't set the agenda, but lives for the impulses of someone greater than himself.
2. The ambassador is to reflect the values of the kingdom and king as a representative.                                                                                               He is to live out something greater than himself.
3. The ambassador's work is never done as a representative.                                                                                                                             He must always represent the kingdom.
4. The ambassador is intentionally looking for opportunities to share the glories of the king and his kingdom.                          He doesn't just work on the church campus or on Sunday. He does his most important ambassadorial work during the week wherever he happens to be.
5. The ambassador must be in communication with the written will of the king.                                                                                                He understands the agenda and the desire of the king and seeks to pursue obedience.
6. The ambassador depends on the resources of the king and kingdom to do his job of representing.                                   In a foreign land he will run out of resources quickly and needs to appeal and request from the king the promised resources to get the job of representing in his life and words completed.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 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. 5:17-21


Think of some other things things an ambassador has to know or do to represent his king and add them to the comments below.