The Faceless Customer

Ever stand in a store seemingly unnoticed by the person behind the counter because they are busy having a conversation with another coworker only to have them eventually turn to you and have a very impersonal interaction that ends with them asking you multiple times, 'Will that be all.' or 'Would you like anything else.'

Their coworker had an identity to them, even though it might be a temporary, but you were just the 1,356th faceless customer to pass through the establishment. People on your side of the counter become more like a commercial... something to be endured until the show starts up again.

It's funny isn't it how salesmen are often more friendly to customers than they are to each other but service workers seem to huddle together like it's them against the world but that is human nature. We can often serve and value those who serve us and impersonalize or label those who take from us.

God is different. He Is not fallen. He has infinite capacity. Once He knows your name He knows it forever. He has known millions but when we stand before the throne of grace we become aware that we are at the center of His full attention. His still invisible eyes are looking kindly into our eyes with full recognition and they follow us even after we have gone.

"...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:20b ESV

I don't think people realize how close they are to hating people when they develop the capacity to ignore individuals. Noticing someone is the first step into a potential relationship.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God... No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." - 1 John 4:7, 12 ESV

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." - Romans 12:10 ESV

We don't have a, 'We should all love one another!' message. You can't legislate such a thing for yourself or anyone. After thousands of demands people begin to look alike to us. Naturally speaking we have a limited capacity to love. Some people's eyes glaze over sooner and others later but eventually they all will if they function alone.

We can try to legislate attention and call it 'customer service'... but we can not legislate love.

We have a, 'Let God love you because of Christ.' message. We have a name and a face because of that One name and face. He Is our doorway into intimacy. He got us past the barrier of holiness that would have excluded us and gave us access to the throne.

We have the great privilege of standing in the rooms we always stand in knowing that God is waiting to be gracious to each individual in that room. He wants to know their name and for them to know His name.

Connected to this love the yoke of human relationships is easy and the burden is light because God is carrying the bulk of the load.

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