Christianity was never meant to be a cold list of rules or a rigid tradition. At its core, it’s a living, breathing movement—a foretaste of God’s kingdom on earth, shaped by lives transformed through grace while waiting in hope for Christ’s return.
And yet, the hardest part of living that kingdom now is… people.
It’s easy to love the idea of being loving. But people—with all their flaws, quirks, and complexities—make that calling a real challenge. In a world where it’s more common to cancel than to forgive, more natural to criticize than to listen, and easier to ignore than to engage with compassion, Jesus calls us to live differently. To love the unlovable. To offer kindness even when it’s never returned. To reflect heaven’s mercy here and now.
That’s not easy. And honestly—on our own, it’s impossible.
But everything changes when we’ve truly encountered Jesus. The way we see others, the way we respond, even the way we carry ourselves begins to shift. Meeting Jesus doesn’t just change your beliefs; it changes your being.
We’ve seen it time and again in the Gospels. Tax collectors turned generous. Fishermen became apostles. Outcasts became witnesses. And it wasn’t because they mastered religious tradition—it was because they met Jesus face to face.
So here’s the question: Have we encountered Jesus?
Not just read about Him, sung about Him, or worked in His name. But truly encountered Him—enough that our lives bear witness to His love, His mercy, and His kindness. Because the more time we spend with Him, the more we begin to reflect Him. And maybe—just maybe—this moment is an invitation to pause and ask ourselves:
“When people meet me, is Jesus seen?”
