I’m an avid bumper sticker, t-shirt, and sign reader. A shirt I saw recently made me smile. It read, “Don’t ‘Bro’ me if you don’t know me!”

I think that sentiment carries far! None of us like to be presumed upon, and relationship boundaries are sometimes stretched to the max. I think maybe God feels that way at times, too!

Another plaque I read recently said, “I’m a very good bad example!”

And another read, “If you met my family you would understand.”

These make you smile or even flinch if they hit too close to home. But, did you know that the expression on your face and the attitude you present to the world says as much about you as you what you speak with your mouth?

Let’s go back to the first slogan about “bros” for a moment. One of the most recognizable symbols of our faith is the cross. Many people wear them as a statement of their faith. Many more have them tattooed on their body as a form of respect or honoring the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But if you and I don’t consistently reflect the values of our faith, or if our faithfulness to this calling on our life in following Christ is not reflected in our choices, actions, and words, then we might be better off not wearing it or showing it to anyone! God might say to us, “Don’t ‘bro’ me if you don’t know me!”

In Scripture, one of the chief signs of God’s relationship with Israel was that He was their God, and they were His people! Jesus continued this imagery by saying that HE was our Shepherd, and we were His “sheep”. We represent Him and His Church whether we realize it or not! Our challenge is to “Act in such a manner that you are a living proof of a loving God!”