Represent… Well

“The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.”

John 12:45

It never ceases to amaze me how bad customer service has gotten. I almost hate calling an establishment for fear that I will get either stuck in an automated system with no option but to hang up or receive the one person who has the ‘I don’t care’ attitude.  It sounds really negative, but it’s true. It’s hard for me to believe that either of these reflects the true brand of the company or the message that they ultimately want to send to their customers and potential customers.  Regardless of the intent, the service speaks volumes about the company.

The other day I was reading a scripture in John that really struck a chord with me. In John 12:45, Jesus is speaking to a group of Jewish leaders who in their disbelief continued to question Him.  He answers them saying, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.” It made me wonder if I can say the same thing. Sometimes, we get so busy with life that we forget that we have a purpose here; on this planet, in the city, at our jobs, in our community that goes deeper than surface level. I’ve heard the expression, ‘bloom where you are planted’.

And it is true, no matter what station in life in which we happen to find ourselves we must make the best of it, while we can. But in making the best of it, we must represent Christ every opportunity we get. That sounds simple, but really it involves a daily surrender to God so that your thoughts, actions, or words don’t lead you down a path that put distance between you and Him. Or a path that causes those around you to turn and run in the opposite direction. 

All of us are flawed and we all experience those moments where we may not feel very Christ-like and have behavior that matches it. Frankly, most of those moments occur for me while driving I-30. Secretly, I wonder if slow-moving drivers are placed in front of me simply to test me. If so, I could honestly say that they are winning the battle every day around 8 a.m. and again around 5:30 p.m. Those are generally not my proudest moments and hopefully not the ones others are seeing as a true reflection of how I am or who I aim to be in Christ. Wow! Heavy thinking for a ride to work or to daycare, but very true.

Our life and how we chose to live it should reflect the one that gave it to us. No, not our parents. While they are important, they are not givers of life. But Christ is. For the life, he gave us at birth and the new life He promised us when we entered his family we should be appreciative. And that appreciation should reflect the way we treat others and live out this life. Because after all, we are representing Him.

On occasions, I pray that God would allow me to be a good reflection of Him. I know that perfection is a mark that I will never reach. But I have been made perfect by His love. And if I can show someone the same love that He has shown me, then I’m representing Him well.

What do you think?

#John #represent #perfect #customerservice #love #God