I am thinking of a word. See if you can guess it.

Some synonyms are alien, different, strange, outlandish and unknown.

I have a feeling you’ve guessed correctly. I am thinking of the word “foreign”! It literally means “from another country or strange.” Let me share the verse and then a couple of thoughts about this word.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Think of it. An ambassador represents his or her country and goes to a field far from home where the culture, customs, and practices may indeed seem very strange. One of the biggest challenges for any overseas ambassador is this sense of being a foreigner. Often everything around the ambassador seems strange. The thinking process, the ways of the culture, even just the simple day-by-day ways of doing things are so different.

Friends, as the culture of this world plunges deeper and deeper into the darkness of animosity toward our Lord and rejection of common-sense morality, we need to stay focused. Our stay is limited but our message is true, and our Homeland is Heaven. We get to represent our Lord everywhere we go in this very foreign and sometimes hostile culture.

To all my fellow ambassadors,

Be wise.

Be careful.

Be focused.

Be rejoicing in the One you get to represent today!