‏11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Rodney Clarke

In today’s passage, Paul is imploring the Corinthians to follow his example. He's not doing it to big-note himself, he is doing it so they can be discerning and spot the false teachers who are all flash and no substance. He wants them to see what an excellent and valuable ministry looks like, what it truly means to be an ambassador for Christ.

An ambassador is essentially a representative of someone greater. In this case, it’s being a representative of the Lord Jesus, which means rightly presenting the gospel of Christ to others and trying to persuade them. Paul implores the Corinthian Christians to be good representatives of Christ and his gospel.

Paul alludes to being “crazy” for preaching the gospel of Christ. But he doesn’t see that as a negative or something that disqualifies him. He actually lists it as a credential. He is reminding them what he has given up, in terms of his social standing and worldly things, for Christ and his gospel – though he also says that if he is of right mind, it is for their benefit. Paul understands the weighty responsibility that he has been given to preach about Christ. Because of that, he emphasises both what Christ has done for them, and what Christ has called them out of and called them for. That is, Christ died for them, and now calls them to put off their old life and move forward into a new life in Him.

Sometimes we get blinded and distracted by the things of this world and don't turn our eyes towards Jesus. We need to cast off our old way of thinking and be transformed by the renewal of our minds – to live not for ourselves but for Christ. We have been given a great responsibility as ambassadors for Christ. We should not take that calling lightly but consider it the highest cause imaginable. God’s plan of rescue is found in Jesus and this should be paramount in our thinking, particularly in terms of the people who God has placed in our lives. It’s really pretty simple: it’s about putting other people first in the hope that they may be saved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rodney is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.