Running Our Race - Who Am I? And Why Am I Here?ਨਮੂਨਾ

Hebrews 12:1c calls on us to “run the race that is set before us.” Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s creation in Christ Jesus to do good works that he created for us to walk in.” Is it possible that there is an eternal intentionality about our lives from God’s perspective and that we are who we are, where we are, and what we have to work with in Kingdom terms as His representatives on Earth? Are we the result of biology or something more? Are we as we are with the gifts, talents, abilities, and location where we find ourselves by random chance or part of a plan created by an infinitely loving and wise Creator? That’s a lot to think about. But for today, let’s assume that the dominant message of scripture is that we are indeed intentional creations of a God who has a purposeful plan for our lives and that He has placed us in His plan to participate by representing Him right where we are now.

That’s right. The mystery of the gospel might be paraphrased as “Christ in us, as us, through us, to others around us” (Colossians 1:27). Jesus never calls a “part-time disciple.” Every Christ follower is a full-time Ambassador! Our Ambassadorship is smack in the middle of our everyday lives, in the circle of relationships that we naturally have. Our location, geography, and opportunity may be tiny or huge. None of those things matter to our Father. He’s not impressed with size. He looks at faithfulness in using what we are given, not where it is or how big it is. He picks those things and gives us all we need to serve as Ambassadors in our opportunity. Sure, some He calls as missionaries to far-away places. That would be less than 1% of us, some to be pastors and staff in a local church, that might be another 1.5%. But by far, for most of us, He calls us to minister His love and model His ways right where He plants us with the people around us. Our homes are our Embassies. We venture out to visit the grocery store or the mall. We travel on vacation, go to school, or to work. We go to our kids or grandkid’s ball games or plays. Christ goes with us everywhere. Where we are, He is. Remember, He lives in us, as us, to the folks around us.

So, Madam or Mr. Ambassador, what are your thoughts as you read the scripture and think about how you might apply it in your assigned territory?