Am I his Reflection?

It's always interesting to think about how differently we would act if Jesus were to be literally / physically walking on the earth with us right now. Someone once asked me, "If Jesus was driving in the car ahead of you, would you still impatiently honk your horn at him? If Jesus were the homeless guy on the corner, would you still drive by without recognizing him?" I used to and still do forget that showing love for others is one way to show love for Christ. Especially when I consider the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If I am led by the Spirit and have all of the above, then I contradict my character when I impatiently honk my horn or neglect to acknowledge the homeless guy on the side of the street. Love for Christ --> love for people.

If Christ were walking side-by-side me today, sitting next to me on the couch, how would my plans for the day differ? If I saw the holes in his hands, the thorn scars on his head, the hole in his side, the look in his eyes, how would my life change? When I wake up in the morning, do I see myself or see Christ? Do I live for myself or live for Christ? Do I fight for myself or fight for Christ? It's easy to answer that question when he is physically sitting right next to me, but what about when he's not? Am I still his witness? Do others see Christ walking alongside me, holding my hand?

As I think about this summer and think about what it means to model to others, I keep in mind the understanding that I might be the only Jesus some of these campers ever see or encounter. Am I still going to fail to show love, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Or am I going to model to others that Christ is love, patient, peaceful, kind, good/just, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled?

Jesus, I am going to strive, like never before, to be your reflection.