Attribute #1 of a Marketplace Ambassador
In II Corinthians 5:17, the Bible teaches us that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Then, II Corinthians 5:20, tells us, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…….”. What these verses are communicating is that every Christian is an Ambassador for Christ. The question is not whether you as a Christian are an Ambassador for Christ, but rather how effective are you as Christ’s Ambassador.
As Marketplace Ambassadors for Christ, we must be mindful of the challenges of this endeavor. We have an enemy who does not want this to occur. We have our own flesh that often gets in the way. And, we have the everyday stresses of life that hinder our ability to stay focused on doing things God’s way.
So, what should we do?
There is no more important element to our life in Christ than a daily, intimate walk with Him. It is virtually impossible to live out this Christian life without fully submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is critical that we prepare ourselves for our day in order to have any chance of reflecting Christ in our interactions with people.
Here are several practical ways to begin each day in intimacy with Christ.
1. Begin each day in prayer. Spend time praising God and thanking Him for all He has provided to you.
2. Have a daily quiet time. Allocate some time each day to spend with God. By beginning your day with God, you can effectively ask God to guide you in every thought, action, and deed throughout the day. In order to get started, you might consider the 7/7 approach. Spend 7 minutes with God all 7 days of the week. Hopefully you will allocate additional time for your quiet time once you have tried out the 7/7 method.
3. Study God’s word daily. God has left us with the instruction manual for life, the Bible. One of the most effective ways to understand God’s plan for our life and gain His perspective and wisdom is to study His word each day. Again, start out with a manageable amount of time and see what happens. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for His righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
As you consider Attribute #1 of a Marketplace Ambassador, walking daily in intimacy with Jesus Christ, here are a few verses for you to study and some questions to ask.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
QUESTIONS:
What do these verses say to you?
How can you apply them to your life today?
What adjustments do you need to make to walk closer with Christ today?