Day 39 – 2 Corinthians 5: 14-21

Aged about nine I would be sent by my mother the half-mile into town to shop. I would receive a clear list of instructions as to which shops to go to and what to purchase. The important part was listening to the instructions and delivering the requests to the appropriate shop-keeper. St Paul in 2 Cor 5:20 refers to himself as an ‘ambassador for Christ’. The task of ambassadors is to listen to the message their government wants to give to another and then faithfully deliver it.

It was through God sending ‘ambassadors’ to each of us that we first heard the good news of His love and how Christ had died and been raised for us. They delivered the message in a variety of ways not knowing whether or not we would understand or act on what they had shared, trusting the Holy Spirit to speak through it to us. Because others lovingly shared their faith with me I want to be available to be His ambassador to others.

However, some of you are, like me, restricted in what you can do through illness, age, or responsibilities and are wondering how you can share your faith within such restrictions. The answer is to listen carefully each day to the Lord and under His direction, to take appropriate action. You may be instructed to write a letter, send a card or email, pick up the phone or write a blog, or simply show loving care. Do as instructed and leave the outcome in the hands of a loving, faithful God. Then you too will be sharing in the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18).

Lord, help me today to listen to You, act and then trust so that others might know Your love.

by Kathleen Bowe
North Yorkshire Dales Circuit
Supernumerary Presbyter