New York accents are unmistakable. I was on a Zoom call last week, meeting with the director of a post-graduate leadership program, and from his first words I could tell exactly where he was from. After a few minutes of introductory conversation, I asked him, “Which borough are you from?” He quickly and emphatically replied, “Brooklyn! How could you tell?”

People rarely lose their accent. Even after decades of living in a different region or country, people typically speak with their same accent from childhood. Accents do not define us but they are an indicator of our history, background, culture, and experiences. When someone with a different accent enters the room, there may be various levels of curiosity, and, sadly, even skepticism or distrust.

Jesus experienced this kind of curiosity, skepticism, and distrust. But it was not because of his accent, it was because His words were unlike anything the common citizens and religious leaders had ever heard. He spoke with authority, grace, truth, purpose, and passion.

He spoke this way because He was an ambassador from heaven. Tim Keller described an ambassador as “someone who lives in Country A representing Country B. A good ambassador is absolutely bilingual, fluent in the language of Country A, without an accent. But you never forget you are there to represent the values and the interests of where you are from.”

Jesus was the greatest ambassador to ever walk the planet. Jesus represented the kingdom of heaven to the people of earth. He advocated for a kingdom that was not of this world (John 18:36). Rather than finding purpose in our citizenship on earth, where rust and moth destroy, Jesus invited us to store up treasure in His heavenly kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21).  

Jesus’ advent, remembered each year at Christmas, was a supernatural border crossing between heaven and earth. John 1:14 says, “The word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” His advent was to glorify God the Father by making peace between God and man through his perfect life, death, and resurrection from the dead.

The Message version of John 1:14 says, “Jesus became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Jesus inhabited spaces and places and was God’s ambassador everywhere he went. Jesus was born in a neighborhood in Bethlehem, he grew up in the neighborhood of Nazareth, and the neighborhood of Capernaum was where he called home during his public ministry.

Christmas is an opportunity to recommit to being ambassadors in our neighborhood, workplaces, and families. According to Acts 17:26, “From one man God made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” In other words, God is sovereign over which neighborhood we live in and invites us to be His ambassadors in those spaces and places. Followers of Jesus are God’s representatives in the places they live, work, and play. Jesus calls us to speak the language of our neighbors, as ambassadors of God’s kingdom.

How can we love our neighbors and be ambassadors during this Advent season? My encouragement to us is to be curious and conversational.

My 7-year-old son, Will, has enjoyed playing with our nativity set this Christmas season. He loves to hold the characters and talk about who they are. So when we walked to a neighbor's house last weekend, he brought one of the wise men with him.

Our neighbor asked what Will was holding and Will told him about the wise man. My neighbor said, “We do not have a nativity at our house.” Not having a nativity does not mean you do not believe in Jesus, but it prompted me to be curious. I want to ask him what he believes, and I am praying for a conversation where I can ask him what he believes about Christmas.

Curious conversations can happen every day. A simple way to initiate a spiritual conversation is using the acronym F.O.R.K.S.

• Family: Where are you from? Can you tell me about your family?
• Occupation: Where do you work? What was your favorite job in your career?
• Recreation: What do you like to do in your free time?
• Knowledge: What is a hobby or interest you know a lot about?
• Spirituality: Do you have any spiritual beliefs?

At the heart of all of these questions is inquisitiveness. Jesus asked over 300 questions in the gospel and was asked almost 200 questions. Question asking gives us an opportunity to listen and understand our neighbor — and they should feel loved in the process. And, if they show reciprocity, they will ask us these same questions back, giving us an opportunity to share the hope that is within us.

May God encourage you to be his ambassador this Christmas. Commit to praying for opportunities in your neighborhood. Pray for your neighbor, their needs, and what they need most — Jesus, the Savior of the World.