I enjoy going to the airport. Not just pull up to the door and drop off family and friends, but to go inside the terminal. I enjoy watching people. I enjoy the hustle and bustle. I enjoy the entire experience of airport life.

A DIA ambassador…love the cowboy hat and vest!

The Denver airport is blessed with volunteers who desire to help visitors. These volunteers are called ambassadors. One day, my goal is to be an airport ambassador.

This past weekend I made the trip to DIA for my brother’s flight back home. While waiting for him inside the terminal, I noticed a young man struggling with luggage and the map of the terminal. I decided to try out my ambassador skills to see if I could help.

He was looking for a specific airline and it just so happened to be the airline we were headed to. So I gave him directions and off he went.

Then, it was our turn to get my brother checked in. We turned the corner and to my surprise, the airline was not there. We turned left and in fact, the airline was to the right. I had misguided this young man and sent him the wrong direction. My heart sank. I had failed at my opportunity to be a DIA ambassador!

What a humbling experience. I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. I am sure that my directions caused a bit of stress for the young man. I wasn’t even a real ambassador who had gone through training and I thought I could do the job without it. I was wrong!

Airport directions are one thing, but spiritual leadership is another. Spiritual lives and eternity hang in the balance when we mistakenly point others in a direction that doesn’t line up with God’s Word. And yet, God uses us to spread His Gospel.

Paul uses the word ambassador on two occasions in Scripture. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) tells us that “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

The message Paul shared in this passage is simple. When we allow God’s Spirit to lead and guide us, we are able to share this simple message. When we take ourselves out of the equation and allow Christ to shine, the message is loud and clear. Be reconciled to God. Get right with God.

The second time Paul uses this word is in Ephesians 6:20, but let’s start in verse 19 (NIV). “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

Paul’s ambassadorship not only included the spreading of God’s message, but his desire was to share it fearlessly. I don’t know that I ask for that zeal to share God’s plan of salvation.

Oh yes, I fearlessly walked up to that young man and offered assistance about the airport, but I didn’t share God’s message with him. I didn’t ask if he needed help with his spiritual life.

I still want to be an ambassador at the airport, but more than that, I want to be an ambassador for Christ. So today, I will use Paul’s words from Ephesians and ask God to guide the words I speak when I open my mouth. I ask that God will lead me to fearlessly declare God’s message. And I pray that others will be drawn to reconciliation with God.

Turns out, I was given another opportunity to help someone that morning. As my brother was going through security, we waited to say our final goodbye. A woman walked up to me and asked me how to get to security. I knew the answer to this one. So I very specifically (and with a bit more humility) pointed her in the correct direction and she made it to the security line without any mishap.

Today I declare to be an ambassador for Christ. Will you join me?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna