Monday Morning Encouragement -- Ambassadors for Christ

 

Source: Heartlight.org

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us;"


Something happened to me at work last week that God used to make an impact on me in a way that I did not expect. It all began when a co-worker who has a long history of bullying others displayed aggressive behavior over something that he did not like. I had momentarily parked the cart I use to do my job in the aisle just long enough to pick up a tool box. Before I could return to the cart, this associate rammed my cart with his own cart to get it out of his way. When that didn't quite do the job, he rammed it a second time.


I was so shocked that all I could do was say, "Holy cow!" and leave the area. But what was even more shocking is that later I learned that this very same man who needlessly showed such anger and aggression says he is a Christian. In fact, he leaves Christian tracts in the break room, apparently in an attempt to evangelize.


The tragedy here is that instead of leading people to Christ, he is pushing them away with his behavior. He comes across as a hypocrite and, as another co-worker put it, "This is why people don't like Christians."


"This is why people don't like Christians."


Those words struck me, as surely as that man struck my cart. Suddenly, it was not my co-worker speaking, it was Jesus.


"Nancy, can you see why I want you to be different? Why I want you to think of others more, and yourself less? Why everything you do, as well as say, impacts the building of my kingdom? Did I not say that others will know you are my disciple by the love you show?"


This happened on Friday, and I have spent the last three days trying to see all this through the eyes of Jesus, asking Him to help me. To not let this incident come and go without changing me. I don't know how many days I have left on earth to do the Lord's will, so I'm praying that whatever time that is He will use me for His glory and for my good. 


And by the way, I'm asking God to soften this co-worker's heart, too, so that he will be a strong witness to God's love.  We are his ambassadors.


I hope today's song Show Them Jesus by Scott Riggan will encourage you.





I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.











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13 comments

  1. Wow! This is so true & so powerful. My dear Mom used to often remind me that we are the only Bible some people will ever read. That really brings the fear of God over me & makes me want to be so careful how I treat people. Thank you for another edifying, encouraging post, sweet friend. You are such a blessing to me.

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    1. Cheryl, I'm still ruminating on this, and I hope I will not forget what God is teaching me. I want to live my life in a way that points others to the Lord. I know you do, too! Hugs.

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  2. I am so sorry you had to go through this. It's a lesson for sure. I often think that when I see people driving with the Christian fish or a bumper sticker and then they are aggressive. It's a good reminder to all of us Christians to watch our witness.

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    1. This is one reason I don't have a fish on my bumper sticker! LOL Seriously, though, I'm grateful that God used this situation to open my eyes and see the need to truly live an authentic Christian life. More of Jesus, less of me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mari. Have a great week! xo

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  3. I, too, have heard this said. My former boss, the owner of the company would never, ever do business with companies who said they were a Christian business. She said she had been lied to and cheated more by those businesses than any other. How sad that was, and is, to me. She knew I was a Christian and I believe she knew that I would never cheat or lie to, or for, her.
    As Cheryl said, we are the only Bible some people will read. And it's true. We should never use our Christian title to take advantage of others, ever.
    Many blessings and love to you my friend.
    Betsy

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    1. Thank you, Betsy. It must cause our Lord to weep when He sees what your boss described. Very sad. I question whether such businesses are run by true Christians. We know that there are imposters everywhere. Nevertheless, God will deal with them. Hugs.

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  4. I've been pondering on this incident. First, I am sorry anyone has to have this kind of behavior in their work place. And second, I see this person as a hypocrite and not a Christian. Hiding behind his tracts is a non-loving person.

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  5. Yikes! Praying God continues to teach us through His Word on how we should behave during our time on earth.

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  6. Sometimes things happen that we just wonder why.. and what it was meant to show us! With this incident you described, it makes me wonder if perhaps, this man was having a bad day, or something really negative had just happened to him! I see that rude behavior sometimes and it makes me wonder what has happened in THEIR life to set them off like that! Maybe it's God's way of asking us to show some compassion??? That kind of behavior always makes me want to know more about that person! My boss was that way, years ago, and I surely did NOT like him! But later I found out he had been going through a divorce and also had a brain tumor he was dealilng with - he never told anyone.. and I ended up feeling sorry for him rather than letting him make me so angry at his actions. God teaches us lessons in mysterious ways! xoxox Marilyn

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  7. Hi Nancy. This person needs some love. He must have been really hurt to show such aggression and anger towards others. I believe God puts people in our paths for many reasons. Maybe if this person were to be shown God's love he may then understand what a true Christian is. Even though he is not acting like a good Christian I try to remember that sometimes these people are so hurt and miserable they strike out for attention even if it is negative. By no means does this give him the right to hurt others but sometimes it is a cry for help. By showing him love maybe his heart will soften and he can forgive and trust again and understand other Christians display Gods love even if he is not in a good place in his life. xoxo Kris

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  8. It's heartbreaking when someone proclaims their Christianity while behaving in such a selfish way. I will be praying for this person, that the Lord will renew their heart.

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  9. The Bible says that we shall know them by their fruit. Clearly he has no fruit, so maybe we should educate others that saying you are one doesn't mean anything unless their actions show they are. Perhaps he's dealing with issues we know nothing about in which case we give them grace. But there are certainly wolves everywhere and many bad wolves are within the church.

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  10. Hope you are enjoying these last precious days of October, dear Nancy.
    Amalia
    xo

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