Representing Jesus

MY first experience behind a radio microphone was at the local university campus station. I was eager to learn a new skill and wanted to fit in with all the other radio personalities. I soon realized, however, that my values as a believer in Jesus differed greatly from many of the other students. Though I didn’t agree with much of what I saw or heard, I experienced boldness and strength from Christ to share with others the difference He’d made in my life.

Years later, I met up with one of those radio personalities who said he was now serving God. I was amazed to learn that he’d explored the Christian faith because of the way I had represented Jesus to him.

As believers in Christ, God calls us to represent Him by going into our sphere of influence dressed with “tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). In an often brutal and merciless world, we’re able to display the dramatically contrasting nature of our Savior — making allowance for the faults of others and forgiving those who have wronged us (Colossians 3:13). We can be ambassadors of Jesus by allowing His peace to rule in our hearts and by always being thankful, no matter the circumstance (Colossians 3:15).

When love is our overriding motive, we naturally become a harmonious expression of Him on earth (Colossians 3:14). We can’t help but embody Christ’s character when we allow who He is and His message to fill our lives and flow out and through us (Colossians 3:16). May we remember: “whatever [we] do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).