Malcolm Potts March 19th 2017 ~ Ambassador-Advocate

As I said last week, Tim Costello is here with us on one of his frequent whirlwind tours of WA.  Welcome Tim, it's a great joy to have you sharing with us today.Tim's title is World Vision Australia Advocate.  One of the New Testament's great pictures is that of the ambassador or the advocate.  I know they are different but I love Paul's imagery when he says to the Corinthians, You are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.An ambassador is sent to represent another person or institution.  An advocate stands in defence, arguing for another person or institution.  That's what Tim is for World Vision.  But before being an advocate for World Vision, he is an advocate for Christ and His work in the world.  World Vision is at its best a lens for Christ.Just as spectacles make the unclear clear, have you ever thought of yourself as a lens through which, by deed and word, you make Jesus' work and ways clear?I love the idea of us being ambassador-advocates.I've got an old mate in our church who is a great example of an ambassador-advocate.I was reading the Melville Times local paper and was thrilled to see that this ambassador-advocate has been recognised.  In fact, Robert Forward has been honoured with Rotary Australia's highest award, the Paul Harris Fellowship, for enduring commitment to easing global suffering and building peace and understanding globally.  Congratulations, Robert!Over the past 11 years, Robert has sourced, stored, packed and distributed 47 sea containers of medical supplies.  That's right 47!  These have been sent to Somaliland, Ethiopia, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.Robert says, "When you know that what you are doing is helping people, it is not a job and you don't need motivation; it just comes naturally."  To me, that is an advocate finding his passion and working in his gifting, making Jesus clearer and impacting people's lives.No one at St Philips loves and longs to honour Jesus more than Robert does.  When Jesus captures our heart and invites us to get involved in a way that makes sense, a kind of divine magic happens.I sense this has happened for Tim and many of you.I look forward to hearing what God is saying to Tim that we need to hear.  I look forward to reflecting on how you and I can find our role, consolidate our role and celebrate our roles as advocates for Jesus in ways that make sense.I look forward to partnering with Robert in his next adventure as he goes about making Jesus famous and many lives better in the process.BlessingsMalcolm