Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20

This devotion is about Madonna.

No, not Madonna, the mother of our Lord. It is about Madonna, the singer and would-be movie star. It is about Madonna, the lady who writes children’s books and who has published some semi-pornographic volumes that can’t be found in any of our Concordia libraries. This devotion is about Madonna, the music star whose act has been condemned by the Vatican–Madonna, who has become an advocate for Kabbalah.

For those of you who don’t know, Kabbalah is a teaching held by some folks, mostly Jewish people. According to them, an intimate understanding and mastery of the Kabbalah can bring a person closer to God and that individual will be given great insight into the inner-workings of God’s creation.

This devotion is not about Kabbalah. It is about Madonna. It seems Madonna and other folks from Hollywood recently went to Israel to help celebrate the Jewish New Year. During that visit, Madonna had the privilege of visiting with Israeli President Shimon Peres. During the course of their time together, Madonna said she was an “ambassador for Judaism.”

There is no information on how President Peres reacted to her announcement.

When I heard Madonna’s statement, I remembered what Paul wrote in his first letter to the church at Corinth. The Apostle said, “We are ambassadors for Christ.” He wanted that church, and all believers in every century and on every continent to realize they were the Savior’s ambassadors. He wanted them to know that the Lord appeals to lost sinners through us: His representatives.

Understand, Paul was not saying that we are a new means of grace. He wasn’t saying we can take the place of Word and Sacrament. He did want Christ’s brothers and sisters to know the world is watching them. What we say or don’t say, what we do or don’t do, always reflects on the Savior. It is impossible to say how many people have been touched by Christ’s good ambassadors and how many souls have been discouraged by ambassadors who were poor representatives of the Lord who had lived, died, and risen to save them.

We are ambassadors for Christ, and as such, we should do all we can to reflect those qualities that glorify our Savior and Lord. This day, every day, we are ambassadors for Christ.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I am a poor, miserable sinner. Even so, You have in Your great grace, done that which was necessary to save me. May I, redeemed and restored, live my life so all may know I am an ambassador for Christ. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Hosea 9-11    Romans 15:14-33

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