II was watching a YouTube video that reminded me of my time in the operating room.  I worked in that position for about eleven years and saw things that were so amazing it was hard to believe.  The video told a story of a pastor and a heart surgeon.  The pastor had always found surgery fascinating and inquired about seeing a heart surgery.  The surgeon agreed, and so as the pastor watched in awe.  If you are not familiar with heart surgery, normally the person is put on a bypass machine, which takes care of pumping the blood and the lungs.  This allows the surgeon to take the heart out and repair it.  Once the heart is placed securely back into the chest cavity, the surgeon will shock the heart in order to restart a rhythmic beat.  This is exactly what happened in the story.  The pastor watched as the surgeon held the woman’s heart with care, repaired it, and gently located it back into the body.  However, when it came time for the woman’s heart to beat again, it did not.  The pastor said he watched as the surgeon did something so unexpected.  He gently leaned down and spoke softly to the woman.  He said, “Ms. Johnson, this is your surgeon.  I have repaired your heart. Now, I need you to tell your heart to beat again.” As the words left his mouth, the woman’s heart began to beat.  Out of this experience came the song “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.”
 
I love this story!  It is such a picture of God’s ultimate restoration for us. At times in life, our heart may be shattered into a million pieces.  Sometimes it may be from loss, broken relationships, or unforgiveness.  Satan whispers lies to us that we can never recover, we can never be the same, that relationship can never be healed; but Jesus’ Christ blood ran red on the cross to tell us it can.  Jesus died on the cross for us for an eternal hope.  No matter what goes on in our lives we have the promise that, if we are His, He will never forsake us or leave us.  After watching this video, I imagine God as the Great Physician bending down, holding our hearts in his hands so carefully as He repairs them.  Just as the surgeon told the lady her heart was repaired and now it was up to her to make it beat, I can see the Lord gently whisper, “I have repaired your heart, but now you have to decide what you will do.  Will your trust my repair, or will you stay broken and alone because you have pushed Me away? Will you trust the cross will forgive any sin you have committed?  Will you trust the cross will give you the ability to forgive anyone who has wronged you?  Will you trust the cross will give you enough love to repair any relationship?  Will you trust the cross can overcome the pain of loss because it promises a reunion in heaven? Will you believe the cross is enough?”
 
As Christians we say we trust in the Lord, but are we truly living it? My favorite part of the song is "Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore. Let every heartbreak And every scar
Be a picture that reminds you
Who has carried you this far"
 
Mathew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
 
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
 
Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
 
Galatians 5 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

You're shattered
Like you've never been before
The life you knew
In a thousand pieces on the floor
And words fall short in times like these
When this world drives you to your knees
You think you're never gonna get back
To the you that used to be
 
Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday's a closing door
You don't live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you've been
And tell your heart to beat again
Let every heartbreak
And every scar
Be a picture that reminds you
Who has carried you this far
'Cause love sees farther than you ever could
In this moment heaven's working
Everything for your good

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​2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you. ”Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (bold my emphasis) 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry……
 
Last week we discussed what it meant to be an ambassador for Christ.  We established the definition as how we represent Christ to others through our actions and words.  In 2 Corinthians 6 the Apostle Paul is urging Christians to take the gospel very seriously. He is appealing to them (appeal- parakaleo) meaning to encourage, come alongside, or to persuade.  Paul saw what the power of God could do in people’s lives.
 
Have you ever found a product that was amazing?  The results were so good you almost could not believe it yourself.  What was the first thing you did?  Did you stay completely silent about the awesome product?  No- you told all your friends, your acquaintances, and if you really liked it, probably perfect strangers.  Now hear me out.  I am in no way comparing the gospel to a cheap man made product, but I want you to get Paul’s thought process.  He is saying the gospel works, it transforms lives, it gives a hope, and it radically changed my life.  His conviction is so deep, his belief so unwavering; he could not understand why people would not be telling others about Christ and living for Him!
 
2 Corinthians 6 “Working together with him” Who is Paul referring to working together with us?  None other than God!  Just let this sink into your mind.  If you are a believer you have God working with you. I was reminded this week that God gives BIG visions because he is a BIG God.  He wants us to walk out the plans he has prepared.  If He called us He will pave the way.
 
Let’s think about people who “worked together with God.” 
Abraham had no children, but the Lord said he would be the father of many nations.  Abraham saw a problem with this because he was old! Genesis 17:17 “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”  Abraham was probably thinking God you are so funny, I can’t imagine how you are going to pull this off?  But what did Abraham do?  He got up and did everything God told him to do because he knew he served a BIG God.  What did God do? He gave him an heir just as He promised.
 
When Noah was 500 years old he became the laughing stock of the town because he was building an ark with no rain.  But just as the Lord promised when it started to rain, Noah and his family were protected in the arc.
 
Ester was an orphan from a foreign land, yet she became queen.  God put before her an impossible task. However, with knowledge God would provide she carried out her mission.  God not only protected her, but all the Jews in the land.
 
Lets finish up the last half of the verse in 2 Corinthians, “we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”  Paul is saying don’t receive the grace of God and then do nothing with it. In our CBS book it says, “acknowledge that God’s work in a believer’s life can be fruitless and accomplish nothing.  It could be paraphrased as ‘I appeal to you do not abuse God’s precious grace.  Please realize the purpose of His generous grace toward you and allow it to affect your life.”  What if we allowed God’s grace to fully affect our life?  What would that look like? I think it would mean more love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Do you currently demonstrate any of these in your life? All these are possible if we allow Christ to create in us a new heart. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.” Don’t let God’s grace be in vain.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. There is coming a day when we will no longer be able to share the gospel because judgment will return with the Lord.  Trust that God is working together with you! Be Bold. Be Courageous. Be a Light. Be who God has called you to be!

In 2 Corinthians God calls us to be Ambassadors for Him.  An Ambassador represents someone who is unable to be there at the moment.  So we are representing Christ our Lord and Savior every minute we live.  2 Corinthians 5 Paul refers to us as a tent.  “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  The difference is that a tent is temporary, but a building is permanent.  He is encouraging us to live boldly, courageously, and fearlessly for the Lord.  He is saying no matter what God has called you to do, or what happens, you have a permanent home in Heaven.  He wants this fact to loosen our chains of fear and hesitation so we can freely serve the Lord in whatever capacity he has called us.
 
I read a verse in Colossians this week that just struck a cord in me, Chapter one “20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” I love the imagery in the wording of this scripture.  When I think of peace words like good will, harmony, and reconciliation come to my mind.  It was a sacrifice of Jesus’ own holy blood that would bring us assurance, grace, and mercy.  It was by His blood we could have an eternal home when this tent is destroyed.  I don’t know about you but I couldn’t live without the hope of these things in my life.  So if God’s son sacrificed by giving His life then what should we be willing to do?  

Have you ever said I wish I knew what God wanted me to do?  I wish I had a calling from God? Even worse, maybe you have said I don't really feel called to anything.  I am writing today with some news to rock your world!  If you are a Christian you are called!! The Lord ask us, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (John 13:38).  We may answer eagerly of course I will, but let us review the words of Peter.  Peter assuredly answered, "Yes I will lay down my life for you."  He was so sure of himself.  Therefore, the words of Jesus probably took the breath from him.  "38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times." It is much easier to die than to lay down your life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling of God. We are not made for the bright-shining moments of life, but are called to walk out what we might consider the mundanes of life.  God calls us to many struggles, and sacrifices along the way for His Glory.  Here are some ways God calls us to be ambassadors and lay down our life for Him daily.
 
Mathew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne..... 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
 
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
 
God in His sovereign knowledge left us the Bible full of commandments for us to carry out as ambassadors for Him. If we see a need it is our responsibility to try to help to the best of our ability.  If we see someone without food, we give it. If we see someone who has tattered clothes we clothe them.  If they are thirsty we provide something to drink.  If their parents abandon them we help provide shelter by adoption, or supporting them financially.  If people are in prison we should visit them with the Word.  If a widow has no one to help we should provide.  
 
I am going to show you a video I found about a month ago that has radically changed my whole outlook on church, missions, and my calling.  In this video he says, "But if you won't do it- then who will?  The NEED is the CALL!” This just gives me goose bumps.  His point is that if there is a need in front of you then it IS your calling from God to be obedient.  It is your call to be His ambassador.  He says basically if your faced with a need, why would you pray for God to send someone else, when you are standing directly in front of the need?  The truth is we use the statement I don't feel called way too much. It is not about what we want, or what we like, but about being obedient to meet the need God has placed before us.  Here is another statement from the video, "Partial Disobedience- Is COMPLETE Disobedience."  If God calls you to the mission field, but you send money instead- you are living in COMPLETE Disobedience.  God didn't want your money- He wanted you.  If God is calling you to adopt a sweet orphan and you sponsor a child instead- you are in COMPLETE Disobedience.  God did not want your money, he wanted you to give a child a home.  God wants all or nothing.  He doesn't want what we feel like, what we like, or what is convenient; He wants 100% of our heart fully surrendered to His call.  He wants us to take our role as Ambassadors seriously, and be diligent about meeting needs around us.  The saying is, "You are the only Jesus some people will ever see!"  Ask yourself this question, "If you were the only ambassodor for Christ at this moment, what would people say about who Jesus is? However you answer this question, good or bad, it is affecting people around you daily!
 
So as you watch the video remember The Need is Your Calling! IF You Won’t Do It- Who Will ????
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