Ephesians 6:20a
...for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Reflection
Paul saw himself as Christ’s representative in the world. He was an ambassador for Christ. That’s interesting because at the time Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting his trial before the Roman emperor. He was a prisoner but yet he considered himself an ambassador for Christ. How could Paul get out and about in order to fulfill his call to be Christ’s representative? He didn’t have to. He had guards with which he could share the gospel. He had people bring him his meals and that gave him another opportunity. He even had contact with servants from the emperor’s own household when they brought him messages, supplies and other things. In fact, there is biblical and historical evidence that servants from the emperor’s household became Christians because of the witness of Paul.
Paul didn’t have to have a special situation or go to a special place in order to be able to share the good news of Jesus. He took the opportunity to share whenever he was around other people. How many times do we allow the opportunity to share with others pass us by without even realizing it. How many time do people share difficulties and problems with us? Do we routinely ask if we could pray for them? I don’t mean that you tell them you will pray for them. I mean taking the opportunity to pray for them right at that moment. We spend much of our time in contact with many other people but too many times we allow the opportunity to share faith with them to pass us by.
Take time to pray and ask God to help you to notice and develop a heart of compassion for the people with whom you come in contact with each day?
Pray for the courage to take the step of developing a relationship with one person that you do not know. Pray you will at some time have the opportunity to share the gospel.
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