A Different Spin on the Word

I normally don't care too much for Panera, but once I discovered that they make make a mean macaroni n' cheese in a bread bowl, I can normally at least tolerate it now. It was fairly busy on this mid-week day, mostly populated by families, studious folks, and sorority girls.  As we (my aunt, my sister, and myself) sat around our overpriced and undersized sandwiches, except for my carbohydrate overloaded mac n' cheese in a bread bowl, we talked and caught up on everybody's lives.  We talked about our family, work, graduation...typical stuff.  About an hour into our conversation, our focus turned to a far more serious topic: a family member with Alzheimer's disease.  As awful as this disease is, as heartbreaking it can be, I was not at all focused on the negative effects that this disease has had on certain people in my family.  My attention hung on every word my aunt had to say not out of sympathy or politeness, but because I was struck by the love.  As I heard more and more stories about this person who is literally losing her mind, the love with which she is loved by those in my family captivated me.  I can only imagine the patience and gentleness and self-control and peace it takes to, day in and day out, bear witness to someone so close fade further and further from the person they once were.  I'm not saying these things as a testament to the misery that Alzheimer's causes, I'm saying it because the love that my aunt and uncle have for this family member is something that seems unnatural.

 It truly is a great picture for how Christ loves us.  Christ loved us without qualification.  Christ loved us even when we didn't realize it.  He loved us even when he knew we would not reciprocate that love.  In a similar way, my family is loving this family member in a way that will not change no matter how much memory this disease robs.  They will love unqualified.  They love with their time, their money, their disposition, their patience, and their hope.   They love without expecting affirmation in return.

This kind of love, however, goes beyond just family.  This idea is the whole point--to love all.  Christ commands us to love all, without regard to  financial, educational, political, or geographical status.

As we ate and talked in the back of the restaurant, I watched as many people came and went.  One man in particular grabbed my attention.  Judging by the sea foam green scrubs, a nurse.  He was studying a packet, perhaps for school, perhaps for work.  Either way, what was obvious was the joy that this man had to be studying this packet.  I have no clue what he was reading, but it was clear that he LOVED what he was doing.  I feel like we could all use a little dose of this medicine.  Perhaps less complaining that our professor assigned hours of work.  I mean, heaven forbid that a college professor would assign homework that would take actual effort!  Perhaps we could use a little more joy in the things that we do.  Maybe we could appreciate the things that God has blessed us with--a job, basic necessities, education, etc--and learn to love the things that we have.  Learn to love the things that we do and those we do them with.

I don't claim to know much about this word, love.  I would be a fool if I did.  But what I do know is that God loves us with a love that I can't comprehend, much less explain.  I also know that he loved us enough to have his son murdered so that he could look on me with favor and say "well done, my good and faithful servant."  So, on this Valentine's Day, go ahead and spoil your better/other half, but don't forget that we are called to love all people at all times. We are called to love like crazy.  Love with your time, love with your money, love with your talents, love with your speech, love with your insecurities, love outside of your comfort zone.

"Dear friends, let us not love with words or with speech but with actions and truth."

"Come, follow me."

How big is your Jesus? No, he doesn't come in all shapes and sizes.  What I mean is: how big of a role does he play in your life?  Is he just a Sunday morning entertainer?  Is he just the guy you thank for putting food on the table?  I guess to be fair, it's a trick question.  Jesus shouldn't play a "role" in my life.  He is the whole performance! 

To tell you the truth, sometimes (and by sometimes I mean often times), my Jesus is far too puny.  As much as it pains me to admit, sometimes I treat my Jesus as distant and cold.  Sometimes, I treat Him as if he is just another part of my life.  When Jesus says "Come, follow me," he commands us do it as if blindly.  He demands that we give him all authority to direct our lives.  How dare, then, for me to think that I can compartmentalize Christ into certain areas of my life when he calls me to radical abandonment?  How can I believe that it is ok to continue on appearing unchanged by His power?  Nowhere in  "Come, follow me" is there room for doing it halfheartedly.  "Come, follow me" should mean that every person that comes in contact with me knows that I have been changed by the most potent power in all of the universe."

One of my favorite pastors compares following Christ to getting hit by an 18-wheeler.  If you get run-over by a Mack truck, people are going to notice.  You cannot possible walk into work the next day and tell your co-workers around the water cooler a story about you getting smashed by a Mack truck the day before.  You clearly would not be the same after betting hit by a Mack truck.  Simply put, people can tell a difference in a person when they get hit by a Mack truck.  Similarly, we should not be the same after getting "struck" by Jesus.  You cannot walk into work the next day and tell your co-workers about your decision to follow Jesus and continue to live the same as the day before.  You just got hit by a Mack truck, you should be different!  "Come, follow me" means getting hit by a Mack truck.  "Come, follow me" means changing!  

I'll go back to the original question: How big is your Jesus?  The Jesus of the Bible is big enough to handle your problems, but often times we treat him as a last resort after we've tried to fix our lives ourselves.  The Jesus of the Bible is not distant and cold, but a comforter, and we still try to find comfort in every substance and pleasure under the sun before turning to Jesus.  What it boils down to is: Jesus is enough.  He is enough to satisfy our temporary needs.  He is enough fill our empty hearts.  He is enough to get us through.  He is enough to pull us out.  He is enough to push us on.  He is enough to provide protection.  "Come, follow me" is a daunting command, but it does not come without a promise.  "Come, follow me" cannot guarantee where the path will lead, or how smooth the path will be, or how the journey will be financed.  But "Come, follow me" can guarantee who you will be with.  You will be with Jesus.  The one who is enough, the one who is here, the one who is good, the one who is awesome, praise-worthy, holy, spotless, perfect, perfecting, powerful, omnipotent, omniscient, loving, selfish, jealous, mighty, everything, forgiving, firm, strong, healing, active, alive, glorious, almighty, capable, stronger, unending, incessant, merciful, gracious, demanding, accepting, abundant, forever worthy, timeless, priceless, crowned on high, adorned, unreachable yet accessible, inconceivable, divine, supreme, radiant, Emmanuel, I Am, able, faithful, ultimate, final, above all, immortal, impassible, indispensable, majestic, all sufficient, the crux of history, redeeming, atoning, just, limitless, blameless, beginningless, endless, burdenless, unshakable, comitted, compassionate, complete, incorruptable, unparalleled, unequaled, soverign, indefinite, unprecedented, beautiful, matchless, incomprehensible, invincible, irresistible and indescribable.   

That Jesus is worth following.  That Jesus is worth losing everything for.  That Jesus is worth ditching my flesh for.  When I get run over by that Jesus, I should not be the same.  That Jesus refuses to be "just another part of my life."  That Jesus does not play just a role in my life, but that Jesus is my life.    That Jesus is enough.  And that Jesus is worth it.  

"Jesus Christ, you are enough for me, but I am sorry that I don't treat you as enough.  I am not here to offer apologies for my neglect, but I am here to know You.  I want your power to be revealed to me as I follow you.  Here is everything.  You are sovereign over it all and you are alone are sufficient.  Wreck me, a wretch trying follow a saint.  Take over."