The Identity Question (II)

Memory Verse: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ..." (2 Cor.5:20, KJV)

Scripture Reading: 2 Cor.5:17-21.

Two words got me thinking here: "Now" and "For". For the word to say, "Now then we are...", I'm left to wonder, what were we before? The answer can be found in 1 Cor.6:9-11. 

But the Bible tells us that on account of Christ (explaining the conjunction, for), we are now ambassadors-- God's representatives on the earth on account of Christ. That is to say, we are in this world but not of this world.

Just as it is in the natural, we all came from families and it is our duty to represent the families we came from. There are certain things that are allowed and some are not. In the same way as citizens of Heaven, there are things we can do and things we must not dare. It shouldn't even be named among us (see Ephesians 5). For instance, when anyone tells you to accept a bribe, you will tell them that it is contrary to the laws of your country. When as a lady, one of the devil's extension in human form says before you get a job or get promoted, you must grace his bed, you will tell him that you come from a country where that is not allowed.

There was a time in the body of Christ when Christians did not need a church sticker to introduce themselves. Once you look at them, you could know they were born again, blood-bought, sanctified and Holy Ghost filled children of God. They radiated the divine presence of God, humility, anointing, and fire. The radiance of glory was upon their faces. Christianity then was not like the modern day seduction of appearance. Today, many members of the body of Christ are competing with the world in seductive dressing, loud makeup and clamorous jewelries all in the name of looking good. Believers are wrongly appropriating office and church funds in their care all in the name of trying to make ends meet and yet, their ends never meet. This one pricks my heart as well, believers are champions in the use of foul languages. And I can see my Father look down from Heaven wondering, what happened to the salt and light our Brother, His Son died for? It wasn't so from the beginning. Let us go back to the beginning.

Having realised who we are, it is expected that we allow that identity control us. Let's live as the salt and light that we are anywhere and everywhere we find ourselves. 

Don't be deceived, you don't have to be a preacher to do, be and live right. Let this truth stay with us. Have the consciousness that you cannot afford to keep slapping Daddy on the face. We must discontinue bringing shame to the family and name of God. Everytime we compromise, we put God to shame. 

Our identity has changed by virtue of redemption, our mentality should change as well (see Rom.12:1-2). 

Like someone I love will always say: "It's never late to get it right." I say to us this morning, it's never late to get it right. It will only be late if we walk into eternity without getting it right. Just live ready because nobody knows when our time on earth will be up. And let's always remember that, heaven is the believer's home, not the home of preachers.

Ponder Point: Those who think heaven, are the ones who will go there.

Action Point: Live as an Ambassador, not just on Sundays but everyday of the week for the rest of your life both privately and publicly.

Prayer Point: Power to live for Christ, I contact it from this word in Jesus name, Amen.