July 27, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

God's People, Wherever

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
2 Corinthians 5:20

John Hess-Yoder writes:

While serving as a missionary in Laos, I discovered an illustration of the kingdom of God. Before the colonialists imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas. Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese. The exact location of a person's home was not what determined his or her nationality. Instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited. So it is with us, we live in the world, but as part of God's kingdom, we are to live according to his kingdom's standards and values.

Prayer: Ask God's Spirit to help you remember that you are His representative wherever you may be in this world.

"Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us."
~Sadhu Sundar Singh

[Syreth]

Wow, that was a really good devo! I was blessed by it. I pray I can really apply that to my own life so I can be a good ambassador. Of course, it really is by the power of the Spirit, yes? That's such a good analogy for practical Christian living.

[Uriel]

I want to be a missionary but no-one wants to help me. <_>

Nice thread, it proves that home does not determine differences but in fact differences are to be enjoyed.