Representing the One Who Reconciles

An ambassador carries a message that originates with someone else. When Paul describes himself and his fellow workers this way, he places God’s reconciling action before their appeal. God has acted through Christ; they have been entrusted with announcing that reconciliation. Their urgency is therefore neither self-promotion nor an attempt to make God willing to receive people. It flows from what God has already done through the sinless Christ on behalf of sinners. Paul also explains the change this creates in the messengers: Christ’s love redirects them away from living for themselves and toward the One who died and rose for them. The appeal to the Corinthians is personal and earnest because reconciliation calls for a response. For believers today, representing Christ means both speaking his reconciling message faithfully and allowing his love to displace self-centered motives.

Put the Word into practice

Explain to one willing listener how God reconciles people to himself through Jesus, and invite them to respond to him rather than merely offering general spiritual encouragement.

Search the Scripture

How do God’s action in verses 18–21 and Christ’s love in verses 14–15 shape both the message and the motives of his ambassadors?

A prayerful response

God, thank you for taking the initiative to reconcile sinners through Jesus. Let Christ’s love govern my motives. Give me humility, clarity, and courage to communicate your invitation faithfully.