Representing Christ

Because I am in prison I have had to grant someone on the outside power of attorney. This allows them to legally represent my interests, sign documents, and make many decisions on my behalf — in my name, as if they were me. When acting as my agent, their decisions are attributed to me. This dynamic has helped me to understand our relationship to Christ, who is in heaven.

When we accept Jesus, we become his representatives on earth. In a sense, we are his agents, so when people see and hear us, it’s like they can see and hear Jesus. And Christ was the incarnate representation of God’s being. Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9).

In our lives, embodying Christ involves more than going to church, reading the Bible, or sharing the gospel. It applies to every aspect of life. No matter how big or small, everything we say and do is an opportunity to represent Christ — whether eating or drinking, driving a car, telling a joke, or completing a mundane task. And we don’t need to rely on our abilities alone to do this. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us through it all.