You are a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Think about that for a moment. Every day, people are reading your life like a book—your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, even the stranger in the checkout line. The question isn’t whether they’re watching; it’s what they’re reading. Are they seeing frustration, impatience, and self-centeredness? Or are they catching glimpses of patience, grace, and the unmistakable fingerprints of Jesus? Being an expression of Christ isn’t about perfection—it’s about transformation. It’s about becoming so connected to Jesus that the people around you actually see more of Him because they know you.

The mirror principle is simple but convicting: people form opinions about Jesus based on what they see in you. I learned this the hard way back in high school when my girlfriend (now my wife) called me out after I criticized a stranger’s candy choice in a pharmacy. “You’re kind of a jerk,” she said. It stung, but she was right. I was cocky and self-centered, and that wasn’t an expression of Jesus at all. That moment became a turning point because someone I cared about held up a mirror and showed me what I actually looked like. Your life works the same way. Your reactions in traffic, your tone when plans fall apart, the way you talk about people who aren’t in the room—it all preaches. And whether you realize it or not, people are drawing conclusions about Christ based on what they observe in you.

If there’s one thing that should mark a life connected to Christ, it’s love—not hallmark-card sentiments, but the deep, sacrificial, no-strings-attached kind that Jesus modeled. I’ve learned that loving like Christ means more than just being physically present; it means being emotionally available. That’s been a challenge for me because I tend to treat relationships like performance metrics: if I do XYZ, I’ll get ABC outcome. But recently, I asked my wife a question that surprised us both: “How can I better facilitate your growth in your own relationship with Christ?” It was impactful because it showed genuine care with no hidden agenda—just wanting her to become more like Jesus. That’s what Christ-like love looks like: choosing curiosity over defensiveness, humility over pride, listening over lecturing. When you love people not because they’ve earned it but because He first loved you, that kind of love leaves a mark.

The real test of your testimony isn’t how you act on good days—it’s how you respond when life punches you in the face. In 2010, my wife and I lost our house, our job, and our car all in the same month. For nearly a year, we lived on unemployment, barely making ends meet, and I applied for jobs every week without even getting an interview. People were watching—our family, our church, our new community. When I finally accepted a job that paid less than unemployment, God showed up. Before I’d even finished training or received my first paycheck, I was promoted and suddenly making more than I had on unemployment. During that brutal season, I told a client that losing everything reminded me to put my security in the Lord, not in things. That comment impacted him deeply because he couldn’t understand how I maintained a positive attitude despite the circumstances. That’s grace under pressure—not being superhuman, but being honest, dependent, and faithful in the middle of the mess.

Here’s the beautiful part: when you live as an expression of Christ, your life creates ripples that spread far beyond what you can see. I watched this firsthand with Pastor Jim in Anchorage, who worked as a chaplain at the Office of Children’s Services while pastoring. He wasn’t trying to get people to come to church—he simply took the church to them through presence, compassion, and authentic care. The entire OCS office became a mission field, and it completely changed how those state workers showed up for vulnerable children. Your ripples work the same way. When you choose patience with your spouse, apologize to your kids, or serve a friend without expectation, you’re creating waves that reach places you’ll never see. So don’t underestimate the power of your ordinary faithfulness. Love your people well, show grace under pressure, and trust that God is using your life to point others to Jesus. Small ripples make a big impact, so go make yours.