I love branding. As an advertising degree holder, I like to see how companies get their names out there. Whether it is the 13-year-old who begged her mom to wear a shirt with “Nike” written on it or the viral videos created by GoPro, we see these brands and we either buy into them or we don’t.
I work for a company called Hilti. I live in New Orleans, and my office is a van. All day long I drive around in a branded van trying to sell tools at different job sites. (Yes, I am a female selling construction tools . . .) I love my company and love that I have an extra car that I don’t have to pay gas or insurance for, but that car can be seen from a mile away. Everyone who sees me driving sees HILTI. It is the brand I represent.
As I am driving my van, I find myself stopping a little more quickly when tourists are walking the crosswalk on busy downtown streets. I find myself willing to wave a car into traffic that is waiting on a side street. I never honk and rarely cut people off on the highway (unless I am about to miss my exit in this new city). All of my driving choices are made knowing that people are seeing HILTI and not Lindsay.
You probably can guess where this is going. We as Christians represent the brand of Christ. I want to ask us today; do we live our lives in such a way that other people see not us but Christ? I am more apt to cut someone off in traffic in my plain Altima then in my Hilti van. I am also more apt to cuss in a restaurant than church. But shouldn’t I be representing Christ all the time? If I had to wear a shirt—all day, every day—that said “Child of God” and I knew this would be the only example people would see of Christ, how differently would I live? Sometimes we are the only “Jesus” people meet, but we take it for granted. We have a responsibility. Eternal lives are in the balance.
BUT WAIT. There is a flip side of that coin. With this responsibility there are abundant privileges. There are days in downtown New Orleans where I cannot find a parking spot. There are these things called “Freight Zones” and because I am in a company-branded vehicle, I can just throw on my hazards and park there . . . for free. #Winning! GOOD NEWS, FOLKS! WE ARE BRANDED WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS!! #Winning!
Sickness? You are healed by the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:11)
Finances tight? God will graciously provide all that you need and then some! (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Broken-hearted? God is closer than you will ever know. (Psalms 34:18)
It’s all covered by the brand of Jesus. We have already won the battle while others are still looking for parking. And it’s all because we are children of the Most High and have favor!! Walk with your head high this week knowing you are representing the blood of Jesus and have already won because of the Cross.
Grace and Peace to you!
