On a recent discussion board, someone asked the question “What makes a good foreign ambassador?”
The answers were insightful, especially after hearing Tim Mallory’s message that encouraged us to be ambassadors set-apart for Christ. Here are some of the responses from the discussion board that stood out to me:
• Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: These are crucial for treating people decently, managing conflicts, and building relationships.
• Humility and Sense of Humor: These help in navigating the challenges and stresses of diplomatic life.
• Language Proficiency: Being fluent in multiple languages is often a requirement and a significant asset.
• Cultural Awareness: Understanding and respecting the customs and traditions of the host country is essential.
• Negotiation Skills
(Source: Reddit.com)
It made me wonder what kind of ambassador I have been for Christ. Do I express emotional intelligence and empathy when I speak to others? Is there humility in my words?
Language proficiency makes me think of the fact that we need to know God’s word in order to share it! There are so many implications here of how we can be effective witnesses for Christ.
But one thing Tim said stood out to me the most: We must be filled with love.
As soon as he said those words, my mind drifted to the familiar verse in 1 Corinthians 13 where it says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (V.1, NIV)
I wonder how often I have tried to communicate the gospel, or some concept in the Bible, but I have said it without love. Trying hard to hammer down a point, or hone in on a theological implication without taking into account how this affects the other person and their story.
At the heart of this…we are to see people the way that Jesus sees them…filled with compassion and grace. Jesus sees past people’s defenses and walls, He sees right to their heart and He sees the burdens they carry. That is what made His ministry so effective on earth…every interaction was filled with undeniable love.
As you think about growing in your role as an ambassador for Christ, remember that the more you become like Jesus, the more your words will drip with that kind of love. And if you struggle to love others, maybe take a step back and ask Jesus to give you His eyes over that person or that situation. His eyes are filled with love, and sometimes our eyes are filled with contempt, jealousy, or anger. We need His sight in order to truly see.
When we speak, we speak on behalf of the King. We hold His very Word in our hands. What we say matters. How we carry ourselves matters. How we love matters.
Let’s take this message with us into our week as we interact with those that might be harder to love. As ambassadors, we have to rise above our feelings over their actions or the way they have lived or the bad choices they’ve made, or the way they have offended or hurt us…and we need to still carry the message of Christ. It is our chief goal to continue to spread His amazing message of grace. What a privilege it is to be an ambassador!
The answers were insightful, especially after hearing Tim Mallory’s message that encouraged us to be ambassadors set-apart for Christ. Here are some of the responses from the discussion board that stood out to me:
• Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: These are crucial for treating people decently, managing conflicts, and building relationships.
• Humility and Sense of Humor: These help in navigating the challenges and stresses of diplomatic life.
• Language Proficiency: Being fluent in multiple languages is often a requirement and a significant asset.
• Cultural Awareness: Understanding and respecting the customs and traditions of the host country is essential.
• Negotiation Skills
(Source: Reddit.com)
It made me wonder what kind of ambassador I have been for Christ. Do I express emotional intelligence and empathy when I speak to others? Is there humility in my words?
Language proficiency makes me think of the fact that we need to know God’s word in order to share it! There are so many implications here of how we can be effective witnesses for Christ.
But one thing Tim said stood out to me the most: We must be filled with love.
As soon as he said those words, my mind drifted to the familiar verse in 1 Corinthians 13 where it says, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (V.1, NIV)
I wonder how often I have tried to communicate the gospel, or some concept in the Bible, but I have said it without love. Trying hard to hammer down a point, or hone in on a theological implication without taking into account how this affects the other person and their story.
At the heart of this…we are to see people the way that Jesus sees them…filled with compassion and grace. Jesus sees past people’s defenses and walls, He sees right to their heart and He sees the burdens they carry. That is what made His ministry so effective on earth…every interaction was filled with undeniable love.
As you think about growing in your role as an ambassador for Christ, remember that the more you become like Jesus, the more your words will drip with that kind of love. And if you struggle to love others, maybe take a step back and ask Jesus to give you His eyes over that person or that situation. His eyes are filled with love, and sometimes our eyes are filled with contempt, jealousy, or anger. We need His sight in order to truly see.
When we speak, we speak on behalf of the King. We hold His very Word in our hands. What we say matters. How we carry ourselves matters. How we love matters.
Let’s take this message with us into our week as we interact with those that might be harder to love. As ambassadors, we have to rise above our feelings over their actions or the way they have lived or the bad choices they’ve made, or the way they have offended or hurt us…and we need to still carry the message of Christ. It is our chief goal to continue to spread His amazing message of grace. What a privilege it is to be an ambassador!
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.