“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)

Greetings, Everyone!

Growing up, I watched the television series, “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” with my family. This impactful action spy show was only on for an hour and a lot had happened during that hour. Four agents had assignments that needed to be flawless so that they could not expose themselves or the agency they worked for. Even though the agents encountered so many difficulties and challenges they never diverted from the task. Saints, if you compare the agent’s resolve to their assignment and our service to God is it the same or are we lacking? Something to think about.

If you are thinking about it, I would like to give you your first assignment as an operative of Christ, live for Christ. Don’t worry, this article will not self-destruct. Before we get started, we need to understand the assignment. First, this is not a covert operation, you cannot be a hidden child of God. Christ said, “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:33, ESV). We must live a life representing Christ and most importantly, being obedient.

In the book of Jonah, God called Jonah to talk to Nineveh about their sins (Jonah 1:2). He didn’t listen, went to Tarshish, got on a boat, his disobedience caused a storm, got thrown into the sea, was swallowed by a great fish, he prayed and repented, the great fish vomited him to dry land and he went to Nineveh and gave them God’s message (Jonah chapters 1-3). Jonah’s assignment would have been shortened if he just listened, right? No, Jonah knew one thing about God, he knew that God gives grace and mercy, by allowing him to live through a storm and to be swallowed by a great fish. From his experience with God, He knew that God forgives, but he didn’t want God to forgive them. God is compassionate towards us because He does not want us to perish in our sins, He wants us to repent (2 Pet. 3:9). Nineveh repented for that moment (Jonah 3:6-10). However, a century and a half later, Nineveh got caught up again in their sins and God destroyed them (Nahum chapters 1-3).

To be an operative of Christ, you have to understand that God is “slow to anger” (Jonah 4:2) and he is waiting for you to decide how you are truly going to live for Him and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. Acts 16:30-33 (ESV) says, “Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” God gave a nation over a century to get it right, so there were generations of families that may or may not have served God. Christ is telling us the same message.

If we say that we are children of God, let’s use this time to repent from our sins (Acts 2:38), share the gospel (Mark 16:15), build up the kingdom of God (Matt. 28:19-20), and pray for one another (Eph. 6:18). This is your assignment from the Most High. You remember Christ chose you because He sees greatness within you (John 15:16). Even if you get discouraged or want to give up, God is there with you to continue to protect and guide you (Rom. 8:31). Distractions and disruptions will not stop God (Phil. 1:6). Now that you have received your assignment and accept it, welcome and may God continue to keep you and bless you. Next month, we will discuss our next assignment.