Ways to Represent Jesus as We Carry on His Work

We spend a lot of our waking hours at work or in service to others. God initially created work as a blessing, whether we see it or not. Our actions towards or around others, through the work that we do, give us ample opportunities to represent Jesus.

Here are 6 ways we are Jesus' representatives

1. The attitude we carry
Do we drag ourselves in to work or other services we are involved in, counting the seconds until we can leave, doing the bare minimum required of us? Our faithfulness to the work we have before us is a great way to represent Jesus at work.
Read Colossians 3:23.

2. The way we see our coworkers and others
When Jesus preached to the thousands, or healed the sick, or spoke with the Samaritan woman, he really saw them as individuals—their hopes and fears, needs and longings. Do we take time to see our coworkers as individuals lovingly created and bearing the image of God himself? Do we make the effort to learn their likes and dislikes, or ask about their worries or dreams? Pausing to see and know others doesn't only represent Jesus, it can also lead to more insight on how to specifically encourage them in the future.
Read Matthew 7:1-6 and 12.

3. The way we process conflict
Whenever humans gather, for whatever reason, it's only a matter of time before conflicts arise. As representatives of Jesus, we are called to be peacemakers. Disagreements will happen, but instead of getting too defensive, we can represent Jesus by remaining gracious, calm, and kind in our interactions, even when they are difficult.
Read Colossians 4:5-6.

4. The way we spend our time
It's not always easy when everything is demanding our attention right now, but how we spend our time while we are on the clock reflects our priorities. During the busy days, we can represent Jesus by committing our work to God and asking him to help us set our priorities.
Read Matthew 6:31-34.

5. The way we respond to stress
Life can be stressful—not having clarity about what exactly we're working toward, dealing with demands, racing against time limits. We all react differently, but how we handle stress really speaks to where we put our faith. Instead of pushing through by our own grit and stubbornness, we can acknowledge stress and ask God to give us peace. We can represent Jesus to others through the peace we have that comes from knowing who we can rely on.
Read Philippians 4:4-7.

6. The words we choose
Our words are powerful. Instead of venting frustrations about others or joining in unhealthy gossip, we can do the hard work of choosing honest but kind words and directing frustrations to the right people. We can represent Jesus by being quick to offer praise where it is earned, and encouragement along with correction where it is needed.
Read Proverbs 12:17-22.