A little while ago, I was getting ready to host an event and I had quite a bit of errands to run, shopping to do, several things to cross off my to-do list. At the same time I was running several ideas in my head – some pretty exciting business & business advertising ideas I had been thinking of… and that kinda led to me thinking about other creative ways to introduce God to people or at least planting a seed, without getting into anyone’s face or making anyone (myself included) uncomfortable.

I was running some cute and catchy phrases over in my head – thinking maybe we could have some imprinted on really nice cute tops, t-shirts, etc. You know, something a little different, appealing, with nice catchy and friendly phrases on them. So my thoughts were all over the place..on the event I was getting ready for and all the things I still needed to do, on the business ideas I was exploring, on the “introducing God” thing I was thinking of..while shopping, running errands, etc.

My thoughts were interrupted for a little bit when I was rounding up at a particular store. I won’t go into the events that led up to this – but basically what finally happened was someone there made a comment that was pretty annoying. With that thought in my head, I snapped at her as well as the person I was speaking with – who was also present when the comment was made. I actually didn’t really say much but I snapped at them and my attitude said it all, for that minute or so.

I felt bad for my behavior – and I did go back to apologize. What had been said was pretty annoying, but I wish I had handled it a little more gracefully. And as I got in the car, I started thinking more about it…. I started wondering how that might have turned out if I had been wearing one of the shirts I had been thinking about just a little earlier! What impression I would have given. I immediately felt so ashamed.

I know we can, and will get angry – things will upset us from time to time – and rightly so. But I guess the key is in how we handle it, what impression we give. Do people see God in us as we react to situations – good or bad? Imagine if I had been wearing a top/shirt that was pretty much advertising God, and then reacted badly to a situation – what does that say about the God I am representing? And what if I had been wearing a shirt that was advertising a business I owned, ran, was employed by, or was somehow affiliated with? What does that say about the business? Or a shirt with my name or any members of my family’s name on it? What does that say about me or my family?

But the truth is – whether we are wearing an imprinted shirt or not, whether we are speaking about God or not, every day, we are ambassadors for God. We are representing God, and people should see God in us – in the good situations and the bad, in the way we talk, walk, eat, drive, drink, sing, act, work, do business, play, relate with people, react to situations, in every single thing that we do. We are ambassadors for God; Ambassadors for our future selves (i.e ambassadors today for who we are in the future – for people that meet us or hear about us in the future); Ambassadors for our family members, friends, colleagues, business partners, churches, places of worship and whoever or whatever we associate with.

In short, wherever we are – whatever we do – we should always remember that we are not only acting for ourselves in that present moment – our words and actions represent a whole lot more! And so, this scripture came to mind:

2 Corinthians 5:20a
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.” (NIV)

I decided in my heart that from now on, every day and every where, I will try to imagine that I am wearing one of those cute shirts I had been thinking about. You know, one of those shirts advertising God or something else that I am passionate about. That will make me think twice about what I say and what I do for sure!

So I wanted to leave you with this reminder…please remember that in anything you do, you are an ambassador for God, people should always see God in you. It’s not a matter of pretending to be who we’re not – no, it’s definitely not. It is just a matter of getting into the habit of always behaving the way that would please God and glorify his name, everywhere we are. A way that will leave a pleasant taste in people’s mouths – even when they’ve been mean to us. A way that will shine God’s light for all to see. And the more we practice living like this, the more it becomes second nature to us.

I am also reminded of these verses:

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (NIV)

Proverbs 13:17 “A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health.” (NIV)
Click for more verses on the topic “Being An Ambassador” ; or See More Great Verses on Different Topics

Again – we are not pretending to be who we’re not – we are just developing the habit of always acting in a way that will always give glory to God, no matter what we’re doing. Let us not be wicked messengers, but instead faithful and reliable ambassadors for God, bringing health to whoever we come in contact with.

Can you please join me in always imagining that you are wearing a shirt telling others about God, our Father? You can design the shirt in your mind. Pick your colors, pick your words… but always wear the shirt in your mind…and in all that you do – think twice before you speak or act, because remember – we are ambassadors for Christ, always:)!

Much Love & Blessings,

Bomi Jolly

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