Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
— GALATIANS 1:1 

As a pastor of an English-speaking international church, I see people from many nations, including a number of ambassadors who attend our services. They are here representing their home countries, and while they are intelligent and gifted people with incredible abilities, their agenda is set not by themselves in their wisdom and experience, but by the foreign policy of their respective nations. Paul began his letter to the Galatians with his credentials: he was “sent not from man nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.” He was fully aware that his agenda was set by his King.

We also have a number of foreign students in the church who come on scholarships that cover their tuition but leave them almost destitute after paying for room and board; yet, in their humble circumstances, they are engaging in God’s enterprise. Cooking for one another, twenty of them will gather in a small apartment to study scriptures, pray and spend time with God. These young men and women are realizing that they are Christ’s ambassadors and are seeking to serve God, rather than their own ambitions, both in their current situation and when they return to their homelands.

For nearly 130 years, the Alliance has been in the business of preparing and sending ambassadors of Jesus Christ around the world, men and women who seek God’s agenda and desire to “… not be sent from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father…” (Gal. 1:1).

FURTHER SCRIPTURE REFLECTION: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17–21

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Have I prayed and reflected upon what God’s agenda is for me today? What about the rest of my life?
2. How does my life reflect my calling as an ambassador of Christ?

Don Orr and his wife, Betty, are currently serving in their fourth term as International Workers in Poland. They have a passion for equipping and discipling people to be all Christ called them to be.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in being an ambassador for Christ internationally? Check out the Christian and Missionary Alliance’s goglobalcma.com website for more information.