Speaking in a Different Language
Earlier this year, I was in Santiago, Chile, for a leadership conference. The pastors who attended, from all across Latin America, spoke Spanish. The previous year, I was in Geneva, Switzerland, where French was the primary language. For these international trips, I need a translator on stage with me to communicate because I speak a different language than those who are listening.
As I prepare these talks, I do so differently than if I were solely speaking or preaching in English. I need to take into consideration that the talk will be twice as long, because everything is said twice. I also need to keep my sentences and thoughts reasonably short so Diego and Florent can process and translate in real time.
And I need to realize that not everything that makes sense to an English-speaking American audience will have an equivalent in a different language and culture.
As I was preparing my talks with this in mind last month, it hit me: often times, I don’t prepare the words I say in the context of my own life.
I need to speak a different language. Not Spanish or French.
And by “prepare” I don’t mean “prepare” as I would a plenary session or sermon.
I need to speak with ambassadorial language. And I need to prepare my heart to speak like an ambassador. Because words are war.
I would encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 5:11–21 in its entirety after, but for now, I want to highlight two sentences from the passage:
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised […] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15, 20)
Our lives, and therefore our words, belong to the Lord. Christ died for us so that we may live and speak for him. What does that life look like, and what does that language sound like?
Ambassadorial.
Ambassadors are people who have been called away from their homeland to live in another area and represent their leader.
We were created by God, we exist through him, and are redeemed by him to be used for him. We were given the ability to communicate so that our words would help us do his work and bring him glory. God has put us just where he wants us in order to represent him.
Our old lives, which were structured around self-interest, are gone. We have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). We are not free to advance our own interests with our words.
We have been called away from our old flesh. We are new creations. Replaced is the heart which only desired our own interests and did just about anything to get what we wanted. Our communication must always have an ambassadorial, selfless, Christ-centered agenda.
But we need to be honest here. As long as sin remains in our heart, there will never be a situation, location, or relationship free from struggle. It will be tempting to move away from God’s purposes and toward our own.
Do you prepare your heart for this struggle every day? When you wake up in the morning, do you meditate on this question: “What mission and message does the Great Speaker have for my mouth?”
In the mundane moments and relationships of everyday life, do you ask, “Am I speaking for the King?
If we continually ask ourselves these questions and continually ask the Holy Spirit for divine intervention, it will dramatically alter our words!
You cannot be a successful ambassador if you are primarily motivated by your own interests. You cannot be an ambassador part-time. You must always remember that you are where you are because you are a representative. You have been sent by the King to speak for him in every moment of everyday life.
May we seek the grace that softens our hearts and shapes our tongue to be an ambassador for Christ!
P.S. For more gospel encouragement and instruction on how to be an ambassador for Christ with your words, one of my oldest books, War of Words, is available in a new, beautiful hardback edition. It also includes questions for personal reflection and group discussion. Check out the updated release at PaulTripp.com/words.
A Prayer for Today: Lord, I admit that my motivations in life often focus on my own interests instead of yours. I can speak and use my words in ways that don’t bring honor to you. Please forgive me. Would you transform my heart and help me be the kind of person who accurately represents you to the world? As your ambassador, please give me the strength and opportunities to represent your goodness and grace to others. I need your help to do that, because I lack the ability to be primarily motivated by your interests and desires. Use me (and specifically my words) as your representatives in any way you want to use them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Paul Tripp
Discussion Prompt for Children
• Why do you think our words are so important and powerful? How have you seen someone’s words build up another person? How have you seen someone’s words used in a way that tears others down or hurts them? What do you think God wants us to do with our words?
• What do you think it means to represent someone else? How are we as Christians called to represent Jesus to other people in our lives? What are a few ways that we can represent Christ to others?
• Why do we need God to help us be better representatives of him? Is needing God to help us a good thing or a bad thing?
Reflection Questions
1. Why do you think changing the way we use our words starts with the truth of 1 Corinthians 6:20?
2. How have you seen God use you as his representative in the past, specifically via your words? What happened when the Lord used you and your words?
3. What mission or message do you think the Great Speaker has for your mouth today? Tomorrow? This week? This month? This year? With whom do you believe he wants you to speak? Take some time right now to pray for the person or persons who came to mind, and then ask God to use you and your words to help transform that person’s life for the glory of God.
4. In what ways have you been guilty of part-time representation of God? How might God be asking you to change in ways that eliminate the “part-time” nature of your ambassadorial role as a Christian? Ask God to dramatically alter the way you use your words, and seek his help to move from a part-time ambassador to a full-time one.