Unworthy Ambassadors

 

In Isaiah 6 and in Luke 5, we have the accounts of two men who feel very unworthy of divine attention. Isaiah when he sees the Lord sitting on high in all his glory says, “I am a man of unclean lips,” who am I to see the glory of God. His sin is forgiven by putting a live coal on his tongue. He is told that his guilt is now gone, and his sin blotted out. What is his response? When the Lord asks, “Who shall I send?” –  who will be my ambassador, Isaiah promptly answers, “Here am I. Send me.”

In our Gospel reading, we have fishermen who after working all night don’t catch any fish. Jesus then asks Simon to try again, putting their nets deeper. Simon protests that it hasn’t worked before but since Jesus says so, we’ll do it. By following Christ’s direction – a miracle occurs – so many fish are caught that they need others to help bring in the nets and they fill two boats. Simon, later to be called Peter, is just as awed by this miracle as Isaiah was seeing God’s glory. He too feels unworthy telling the Lord to go away since he is a sinful man. Jesus tells him not to be afraid and from now on you will be catching people – basically you will become my ambassadors. They are so awed by this that they leave everything and follow him.

Before the resurrected Jesus ascends into heaven, he says to the disciples, “You are my witnesses. Go out and preach the good news.” This directive is for all Christians no matter how guilty, sinful, or unworthy we feel. Christ’s death on the cross has given us forgiveness. Our sins are blotted out like the coal on Isaiah’s lips.

We are Christ’s ambassadors here on earth by living lives that reflect the love of Christ and by telling others the good news of salvation – sharing the miracle of the new life we can live.

When we feel like unworthy ambassadors – remember Isaiah and Simon Peter along with the miracle of your salvation. Let us not just be followers, but as the disciples became, let us too become ambassadors for Christ.

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