The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE" for Wednesday, 30 August 2017 - Read 2 Corinthians 5:15-21

The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE" for Wednesday, 30 August 2017 - Read 2 Corinthians 5:15-21
-------
2 Corinthians 5:15 and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised. 16 So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! 18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God! 21 God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”
-------
We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [2 Corinthians 5:20 (NRSV)]
Years ago, six of my relatives and I accompanied another relative to her in-laws’ home after her wedding. As is our custom, our contingent included people representing the parents of the bride. Anesu, in his early twenties, represented the father. He took his role seriously and represented the family well. He even refrained from showing off his wild dance moves during the party after the wedding. To my surprise, the in-laws treated Anesu with the respect and honor usually reserved for older people in our culture. After we fulfilled our responsibility, one elder commented that Anesu was a good representative.
This made me wonder what makes a good representative. From this experience, I learned that a representative has authority from the one they represent, carries the interests of the one they represent, and knows well the one they represent. These same qualities make us good ambassadors for Christ. We derive our authority from Jesus Christ; we represent Christ’s interests and concerns as described in scripture, and we know Christ through prayer and worship. I am a good representative when I cease to live for myself and live for Christ.
The Author: Maaraidzo E. Mutambara (Manicaland, Zimbabwe)
Thought for the Day: How can I represent God well today?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to know you more fully so that we can be true and faithful representatives of you wherever we go. Amen.

Prayer focus: NEWLYWEDS
-------