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Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 4:18

Focusing My Life

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 23, 2025

I was one of the men assigned to handle the six-inch (diameter) water hose as part of the fire-fighting team on board the USS WALLER, a Navy Destroyer in the mid-60s. When you run water through a six-inch fire hose, you get a great volume of water, and it has great potential. At sea, we suck the salt water up out of the ocean for that purpose. However, there were three different settings on the fire hose nozzle. When you shift it from fog or spray to stream (I think the three settings were fog, spray, and stream – stream was finely focused), you get a lot of force, a longer range, and the ability to put the water exactly where you need it at any given time. Water that is focused and directed has a great impact. You can feel the recoil in the hose, and it takes four men to keep the hose from shooting out of control and waving about dangerously. I don’t know if firemen have to use four men, but that’s what we used on board ship when we broke out the six-inch hoses.

It seems like I have times in my life when my life is set on fog, spray, or stream. When it’s on stream, I seem to get things done. I need to focus my life on a particular goal, aim carefully, and put all my energy into getting that thing accomplished. Our lives can really have an impact when it’s finely focused. I think God created each of us for a life that makes that kind of impact. We have all been shaped and positioned by God Himself to make a contribution to the Kingdom. Paul says clearly in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

How do you discover what those “good works” are supposed to be? With all of the options for significant ministry, how do you discover a nozzle-like focus for your life and ministry? To me, this entailed wrestling with three major questions. First, why do I exist? I want to know what God’s purpose for my life should be. If we believe in the Bible, each of us has been created for the same purpose: to make disciples. If you come to grips with that purpose and embrace it, you are beginning to focus your life. I’d say when we answer that question, we’ve been set to “fog.” We need more focus than that. The next question is, how has God shaped me? What do I do well? What am I successful at? What do I enjoy doing? This requires more reflection. When I come to grips with my “S” Spiritual gifts, “H” heart (or passions in life), “A” abilities that God has given me, “P” the personality through which those things are channeled, and “E” the experiences that God has brought into my life we move from fog to spray. But to get it really fine-tuned, we need to answer the third question: What is God calling me to accomplish? Take some time to think about that! Paul says, “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

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2 Corinthians 5:20

We Are Ambassadors!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 22, 2025

When Jesus gave his followers the last commission at the end of the Book of Matthew, which is often referred to as the “Great Commission,” he began by saying, “All authority has been given to me.” He also said, “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” God sent Jesus to be the mediator, the representative who would reconcile sinful man to a holy God. His task was accomplished when he said, “It is finished,” before he died on the cross. We now have been given the task of being God’s spokesman for this wonderful message. Paul makes this perfectly clear in 2 Corinthians 5:20 when he says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.”

Paul seems to be arguing that he is and that we are God’s ambassadors, and we are such during a time of war. There is a battle going on between God and mankind. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” The only hope for mankind is reconciliation with God. Christ came, and Christ sent us to proclaim that reconciliation. The war is over! God is now at peace with us. He has presented us with His peace plan. It’s the plan in which God completely forgives our “iniquities” and our “sins” and offers a new and fresh relationship with Himself if we will just receive it.

Notice the emotion connected with the plea. It says, “We implore you.” This is a passionate plea. Now, you have to see that Paul is not calling us to reconcile ourselves. The passive voice of the verb must be translated as “be reconciled.” It’s to receive God’s offer, not to make a contrary offer. There’s no negotiation in God’s offer of peace with us. This is a passionate offer of peace because peace with God is the result of reconciliation. The atoning, substitutionary death of Christ brings reconciliation and peace with God. Beautifully, the promise of this peace was made long ago by the prophet who condemns us for our sins. Isaiah also says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” As Ambassadors, we must always show respect to all whom we address. As Ambassadors, we’ve been entrusted with the most wonderful message in the world. We must be faithful to this commission. When we share the good news of God’s reconciliation with man through Jesus Christ, we please God. Paul tells the Thessalonians, “For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive…we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4

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Philippians 1:27, Ephesians 4:12

We’re Representatives!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 21, 2025

In 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, verse 20, Paul tells us, “We are ambassadors for Christ.” The first role of an Ambassador is to be a representative of the party that sent them. Christ, of course, was the key Ambassador of God! He came as God’s physical representative and actual physical presence in an alienated world. Just as God sent Jesus, he told us, “So I send you.” There’s a vast difference between worldly representatives and divine representatives according to the Bible. In America, we send representatives to be our voice in government. They argue our case with the powers that be and present our petitions for us. We, the governed, send the representatives.

In Paul’s day, the cities and provinces sent their representatives to Rome to plead their cases, similar to our government representatives today. Philo, an ancient historian, described what it was like to be an ambassador as he was sent from Alexandria, Egypt, to represent the Jews who were suffering brutal persecution (not unusual!) at the hands of their fellow citizens. He brought a petition for help. The Roman Emperor, if not all emperors, would send out decrees such as the one recorded in Luke chapter 2. He did not send out ambassadors. Instead, he’d send governors to rule and armies to crush any resistance. Representatives and ambassadors from the conquered countries would be sent to Rome from all over the world. Caesar Augustus boasted in his writing that representatives from as far away as India and China would come to him to present their cases and plead for their people. But please notice that an all-power God did not wait for his alienated people to send their appeals to Him, but He sent His son to make peace with us. The Son then, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, sends us out “in the same way.”

Just as Jesus is the “living representative” of God, we are the living representatives of Him. Notice that the key purpose for Christ’s mission was “not to be served, but to serve.” From the position of an all-powerful king of kings and Lord of Lords, He came to be a servant of all. Just as God sent Jesus to serve us in our greatest area of need, we, too, were sent in the same way. We have been given a mission of reaching out like God reaches out to us through Christ. He has given us a mission that is God’s greatest offer to the world: an offer of Peace with God through Jesus Christ. We represent Christ when we become like Him in His mission. That’s why Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy of your calling…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” (See Ephesians 4:1) Again, in Philippians 1:27, Paul says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” Philippians 1:27

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Colossians 1:10

Always On The Job!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 20, 2025

In 1966, the USS WALLER, a Navy Destroyer, had a port call to Massawa, Ethiopia. Haile Selassie was still the all powerful emperor king at the time. (He was supposed to be a descendant of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.) There had not been a United States Presence in Ethiopia for 20 years. The Captain called an “all hands on deck” event to talk to us about our responsibilities as “representatives” of the United States of America to a generation who had never met any before. The speech was sober and solemn and was a bit threatening as well! We were warned that any infractions on shore leave would be cause for an immediate UCMJ (Captain’s Disciplinary procedure) as soon as possible. He announced the possibility of reduction in rank, loss of pay, and possible brig time for any offenders. He really took our port call seriously. Most of us just wanted to get our feet on solid ground, have a good time, see the local sights, and do the kinds of things sailors do after many days at sea! (I don’t want to talk about it!). The key message was “you are not tourists, you are ambassadors! Never forget that.”

Tourists often give America a bad name. Warren Wiersbe writes, “On more than one occasion, my wife and I have been embarrassed by the behavior of some American tourists overseas. We watched one group almost desecrate Westminster Abbey with their loud conversation and laughter and their total disrespect for the monuments there. We met another discourteous group on a public bus, and we cringed and almost tried to hide our citizenship as they joked about the very nation that was showing hospitality to them. Between cheap TV shows and discourteous tourists, America manages to export the worst possible image.” I’m afraid, at times, this is also true of Christians.

We represent our nation and our people wherever we go and whatever we do. Every believer is called to full-time Christian service in this respect. Many people will form their opinions of God and Christians by our behavior and lifestyle. We should always remember that we are ambassadors, not tourists. Wiersbe concludes his comments on this by saying, “We are always representing our King, and we must be certain that he is pleased with what we say and do. Being an ambassador is not a job that goes from eight to four each day. The ambassador is always the ambassador, and he or she must behave accordingly.” As Christians we are open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! That’s more than the WalMart! Paul tells us, “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work…” Colossians 1:10

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2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Ambassadors are Missionaries!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 19, 2025

It’s interesting that the US Embassies overseas are often called “Missions.” A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one country who have set up permanent residence in another country as representatives of the sending country. The diplomatic mission offices are called “Embassies.” the person in charge of the mission is called the “Ambassador.” The United States has Embassies in many countries. They are all “missions.”

Paul’s description of the “mission” that God has given us is a mission of peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” As God made peace with man through Jesus’ mission in the world, we are on a mission of sharing that peace with those who are still alienated from God. Paul writes, “And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). The Christian mission and our Ambassadorship are focused on effecting a reconciliation between man and God. Some would argue that this mission is to also effect reconciliation wherever and whenever there is brokenness or division. But foremost, it’s God’s offer of a complete pardon to those who have turned away from Him and gone their own way. It’s a call for them to come home.

As Ambassadors, we’re not called to go from door to door or to stand on the street corner with “repent” signs. Evangelism is not another scheduled event to add to our calendar every week. It’s not something else “to do.” It’s supposed to be something “we are.” Vance Havner, an old Baptist pastor, preached at Moody Bible Institute’s Founder’s Week back in 1974. He said, “Evangelism is to Christianity what veins are to our bodies. You can cut Christianity anywhere, and it’ll bleed evangelism. Evangelism is vascular. It’s our business. Talk about majoring in evangelism. You might as well talk about a doctor majoring in healing. That’s our business.” Our business is to point the way to reconciliation and peace with God. Surgeons have an awesome responsibility. At the end of the scalpel may rest life or death for the patient. When a lawyer faces the jury, one mistake can distinguish between conviction and acquittal. But each Christian, as Ambassadors for Christ, holds the greatest mission. It’s the mission in which he offers the greatest pardon ever: the pardon for their sins through faith in Jesus Christ. The pardon, the reconciliation, will last through all eternity. Paul says, “We have been given the wonderful mission of reconciliation…we plead…come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

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Ephesians 6:10-16

Bold Ambassadors

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 18, 2025

The Apostle Paul is the one who says that we are all “Ambassadors” for Christ. But he also uses the term after he introduces the spiritual armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6. The war that exists in the world is a spiritual war, and we need spiritual armor in our battle. He addresses that issue and even describes the various parts of the armor. I expect, since Ephesians was written from a Roman prison, that Paul could very well have watched his guard don his armor as he wrote about spiritual warfare. He mentions the shield, the chest plate, the girdle (belt), the helmet, the boots, and the sword. Being a spiritual warfare, Paul concludes his instructions for doing battle with the importance of prayer. He writes in verses 18-20, “To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” The prayer was specifically for the fulfillment of his mission as an ambassador, and twice, he mentioned the need to speak the message with boldness. Jesus has conquered the powers in the spiritual realms and although there are remnants around that we still do battle with, the victory has been won. A final revolt will also be put down one day by the King of Kings. We must remember that we are the victors and will be victorious.

In a very real sense, we are all “ambassadors in chains.” There are always forces that will stop at nothing to silence the message God has entrusted to us. Those forces, authorities, and powers (see Ephesians 6:10-18) are not of a physical nature. Paul makes it clear that the war we’re in is not against “flesh and blood.” No, it’s against spiritual foes. On the brink of World War II, FDR said that the main thing we have to fear is fear itself. Everything seems to work to intimidate us and often puts our tongues in chains. Paul understands that he must speak it boldly. But it’s also to be spoken appropriately. Appropriate boldness honors the message that our home office has sent us to deliver.

C. H Spurgeon said: In the olden times, when Oriental despots had things pretty much their own way, they expected all ambassadors from the West to lay their mouths in the dust if permitted to appear before his Celestial Brightness, the Brother of the Sun and Cousin of the Moon. Certain money-loving traders agreed to all this and ate dust as readily as reptiles. But when England sent her ambassadors abroad, the daring islanders stood bolt-upright. They were told that they could not be indulged with a vision of the Brother of the Sun and Cousin of the Moon without going to their hands and knees. “Very well,” said the Englishmen, “We will dispense with the luxury but tell his Celestial Splendor that it is very likely that his Serenity will hear our cannon at his palace gates before long and that their booming is not quite so harmless as the cooing of his Sublimity’s doves.” When it was seen that ambassadors of the English Crown were no cringing petitioners, the British Empire rose in respect of Oriental nations. It must be just so with the cross of Christ. Our cowardice has subjected the gospel to contempt. To preach the gospel boldly is to deliver it as such a message ought to be delivered. (See C.H. Spurgeon, “Feathers for Arrows,” Page 23) Luke tells us that Peter said, “Let me speak boldly to you… God raised this man Jesus to life, and of that we are all witnesses…” Acts 2:32f

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Matthew 28:19-29, Titus 2:15

Speaking with Authority!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 17, 2025

Before the era of rapid international transport (such as cars, trains, and aircraft) or virtually instantaneous communication (such as radio or telephone), diplomatic mission chiefs were granted full (plenipotentiary) powers to represent their government in negotiations with their host nation. Conventionally, any representations made or agreements reached with them would be recognized and complied with by their government. Both John Adams to England and Benjamin Franklin to France were Plenipotentiaries. They had the authority to speak for their nation, enter into negotiations on their behalf, and even sign treaties and agreements.

When Jesus commissioned his disciples, he made them all, and us all, plenipotentiaries. We have the authority to speak on His behalf. In Matthew 28, the verses that contain the great commission, Jesus expresses this fact. He begins the commission by saying, “All authority has been given to me… therefore go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I’ve commanded you and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mathew 28:19-20). Further, when Jesus said, “As the Father sent me, so I send you,” he was commissioning us as plenipotentiaries. The Father gave him all authority to become the message (The Word that became flesh) to the world of lost sinners. Jesus said that just as the Father sent him with all authority, Jesus is sending his disciples with authority to share the message of the Word becoming flesh to save lost sinners.

Today we have the authority to enter into contracts with other people that God has promised to honor. We can pronounce that your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ Name. A physician was once treating a Vietnam veteran who had been nonfunctioning for years. He had been responsible for many deaths in the war and couldn’t get beyond that guilt. Being a Christian, the Doctor sat next to him in his hospital bed and said, “I want to tell you that your sins are forgiven.” “What did you say?” asked the patient. The doctor said, “I have the authority to tell you through Jesus Christ that your sins are forgiven.” That exchange marked the beginning of a healing, and the patient is now back functioning in society. Dr. Wilson performed a miracle of healing, not as a psychiatrist, but as a Christian. We have been given that authority also! We’ve also been given the authority to assure people of their eternal destiny after death. The Apostle John explains why God moved him to write the words of Scripture. He says, “I have written these things to you who believe in Jesus so that you will KNOW FOR CERTAIN that you have everlasting life” (1 John 5:13). Paul wants his young disciple, as we, as all of us, to be faithful to this call and accompanying authority. He tells us in Titus 2:15, “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

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Isaiah 53:6, Luke 19:10

Finding the way home

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 16, 2025

A young boy about seven years old went to Disneyland with his family. But in the excitement of all the rides accompanied by cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn, he became separated from his family. He was having such a wonderful time that it was long before he realized he was alone and lost. When he discovered his predicament, he at first figured that he could find his way back to his family. But, after a time, it finally hit him, and he didn’t know where he was going or how to get there. He was lost, really lost!

The same has been true for all of us and is still true for many today. The Bible says that “all we like sheep have gone astray. We’ve turned away from God (our Father), and have gone our own way” (See Isaiah 53:6 and Romans 3:23). Even King David, the man after God’s own heart admits that he too has gone astray. In Psalm 119, in the last of 176 verses, he writes, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep.” The allurements of “vanity fair” (As John Bunyan puts it in “Pilgrim’s Progress”) sing their siren songs that probe into each of our hearts. The excitement of the world and the dramas and thrills of life have truly distracted us, and very often, it takes a while for us to come to our senses. We may not even know that we’re lost yet because we may still be having a wonderful time, but we are lost all the same. Sooner or later, it’s going to hit us, and we discover we are lost, alone, and don’t know where we are going or how to get there. Like the prodigal son in the pig pen eating pig food, we learn we need to go home.

Two things were necessary for the boy to be reunited with his family: the sinner to be reunited with His Father. First, he had to recognize his condition. Second, someone had to show him where he could find his family. John 16:8 teaches us that the Holy Spirit’s role is to convict us of our lost condition. But God has called each of us believers to show those who are lost the way home. The passage from Isaiah goes on. It says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” We are all in the same boat. It is not a “better than you” situation at all. It’s a “look what I found. I want you to find it too” situation. D. James Kennedy used to say that evangelism is one beggar showing another beggar where he found bread. One of the most comforting passages to lost sinners in the Bible is Luke 19:10. Here, Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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