Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

This declaration by John is one that every pastor needs to take to heart. Whatever the details of their ministry, they are not the Savior. In some churches there are sycophants who will try to make the pastor feel they are on a plane with Jesus, but such people are being used by the devil. Every believer is a representative of Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:20) and Christ is being formed in every believer, (Galatians 4:19) but that doesn’t begin to make us equal with Him. It’s like a private who takes a message from the general. Like John, we are to be telling people to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, (verse 2) and when they do repent we are to baptize them, but we are never the Savior; That is only and always Christ Jesus the Lord. As John goes on to say, He baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. We are to seek to draw ever closer to Him, knowing that involves such baptism. We might desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but fire is a different matter! The fire of God burns away anything that isn’t of Him, and it can be devastating to find out how much of our lives is in that category. For the person fully dedicated to God, that is a welcome thing. The final step of that is physical death, and that too is to be received with gratitude and joy. However, up until that point, we are to be active in our obedience, allowing His Spirit to work in and through us. Nothing this world could offer can compare with the privilege of being an ambassador for Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:20)

When I was still in elementary school I participated in Royal Ambassadors, a Southern Baptist discipleship program for boys, every year at Mission Meeting. (It didn’t exist in Japanese churches, so we did it when the missionary families were gathered.) That’s naturally when I memorized 2 Corinthians 5:20! That probably is a major factor in my awareness of representing Christ. Of course, being in a missionary family was a big part of that as well. At one point I had a sign beside the front door of this building, declaring it to be “The Kubara Embassy of the Kingdom of God.” I eventually took it down, not wanting confusion with the “kingdom hall” of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I think the principle is valid. No believer is a perfect representative of Christ, but every one of us is a representative to some degree. Our lives often govern how others see God, what they think He is like and what He thinks of them. That is a heavy responsibility! However, as Paul said, we can do it through the One who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13) At the same time, we’ve got to remember that we aren’t Christ, any more than John was Jesus. My goal, my prayer, is for every believer in this church to recognize that Christ lives in them, and delight to represent Him to the world.

Father, thank You for this reminder, on this last Sunday of the calendar year. I pray that all we do this morning would build up the believers and make them more like Christ, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!