Customer Survey

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15 NRSV

If you have purchased or had a service performed somewhere recently that has your email, you’ve likely received a follow-up customer service survey. I get these after each doctor's visit. The first question on the survey probably reads something like this, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to tell someone about us?” This question is followed up by an open-ended question, “Why did you give us this rating?” Also, somewhere, we would see the question, “How satisfied were you with the overall product/service?”

If God were to send us a survey, how do you think we would respond? Considering His steadfast mercy, love, compassion, and grace, what score would we give? True, our expectations may not be met in every situation–our prayers may not be answered with the timing and in the way we desire, but that does not negate God’s goodness. God’s will doesn’t always align with our desires. He answers with what we need, not with what we want. Considering these things, I’m guessing our satisfaction scores would be high, likely 10s.

But what is our answer to that first question, “How likely are we to tell someone?” We are delighted with what God has done–and continues to do–for us. We are happy that he sent His Son to redeem us. We are overjoyed to be forgiven. We like the idea of eternal life in Heaven. That is the good news that we have experienced. But are we hesitant to share this? Are we shy in our proclamation? Are we more likely to tell someone how great our physician is over telling them about the Great Physician?

In today’s verse, Jesus appears to the eleven disciples as they are gathered around the dining table and has some stern words; it says, “he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.” (v. 14) Jesus follows with the commission to go and proclaim. The disciples had followed Christ for three and a half years, witnessed the miracles, heard his teachings, and seen his promise realized. The crucified Christ had conquered death. He was risen and stood in front of them. If there was a group to give 10s on the satisfaction survey, they were it. But as yet, they had been unwilling to share their experience because of “unbelief and hardness of heart.” (NKJV)

God, thank you for the salvation found in Jesus Christ. Though we have been beneficiaries of all your goodness, like the disciples, we have hesitated to proclaim the good news. Forgive us, we pray. Melt our hearts, give us the faith to overcome our unbelief, and grant us the boldness to share the gospel with others. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim