When I was in 6th grade I was a JPO. This position was very prestigious at the time. A JPO was a Junior Police Officer. In military fashion we would march out to various street corners and direct traffic and children across intersections. We had uniforms and red plastic helmets. We raised our right hand and took an oath commissioning us to uphold the highest form of integrity and respect. We were dedicated to safely take care of the children crossing the streets.

After graduating college I joined the Marine Corps and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. Again I raised my right hand and swore, with the highest moral standards, to protect and put my life on the line for my country.

Another commissioning that I experienced along with my wife was being election officials during local and national elections. Jeanie was a precinct inspector and I was the touchscreen inspector. We worked over 10 elections. Again, my right hand was raised and I took the oath that went like this: "I do hereby solemnly declare that I will support the Constitution of the USA and California...and that I will, to the best of my ability, faithfully discharge the duties of Election Officer." We took our job seriously.

But all of these pale to the Great Commissioning that the Heavenly Father has given to His family members. Thankfully Jesus Christ fulfilled His commission by being our redeemer and putting his life on the line to die for all mankind. During His life on earth He commissioned His followers as reflected in Matthew 28:19 & 20. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you".

Once the Christian Church was started with the introduction of the gift of holy spirit on the Day of Pentecost, there was an all-important charge or commissioning to the believers. It began with the declaration of Jesus Christ's last recorded words before ascending up to the right hand of the Father.

Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Later, God unveiled more information about being "His witnesses." He revealed His passionate desire to: "... have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:4). To what extent does He call us to fulfill His dream of dreams? He declares that we are His ambassadors! (2 Corinthians 5:20a: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you...").

How is this done? He does not have us raising our right hand and swearing that we will uphold the Gospel until Christ returns. There is no document to sign. No declaration of commitment. Nothing to say, sign, do or declare. He simply declares it as a reality and we simply believe it.

Our response to such an honor is to do it in love. We love because He first loved us (For the love of Christ constraineth us... 2 Corinthians 5:14). We are a "new creation in Christ." We live our life recognizing we are ambassadors for Christ, with the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20a: (ASV)

Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.

But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ,...

 

My goal here was to reveal that of all of life's opportunities and possibilities, none compares to standing for our Heavenly Father as His ambassadors, representing the Lord Jesus Christ to the world!

Agape,

Bob