According to Webster, ‘reconcile’ means to make friendly again, to settle (a quarrel, etc.) or to make compatible or content. An ‘ambassador’ is an authorized representative or messenger.

As believers, we have experienced the gift of being reconciled to God. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection and our belief in that good news, we have a friendly and loving relationship with God. Our debt has been settled. Jesus’s death paid the price for our sins. We can come confidently into the presence of God without guilt or shame because God sees us holy through His Son, Jesus.

Once we are reconciled to God, we take on a new role or assignment, one of a reconciler. Paul explained to the believers in Corinth, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” and “he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

We have both a ministry and a message, a ministry to show God’s love to others and a message that shares the idea that all can become righteous because of what Jesus did. “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. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Now that good news should not remain our secret! May we boldly go forth as ambassadors and encourage others to be reconciled to God.