Two thousand years ago Jesus extended an unbelievable invitation: "follow me." And the invitation is still on the table. But let me drill down on this a little bit. I think there are lots of people who think they have accepted the invitation. They think they are following Jesus. But the reality is that they have invited Jesus to follow them. And there is a world of difference!
For the first nineteen years of my life, if I'm being totally honest, I think it was more about Jesus following me. I didn't want to go anywhere without him. But it wasn't about me serving His purposes. It was about Him serving my purposes. I think many Christians have an inverted relationship with Christ. Call it spiritual selfishness. Our relationship with Him is all about us. And then we wonder why we're unfulfilled and bored with our faith.
Are you following Jesus? Or is Jesus following you?
For the first nineteen years of my life, if I'm being totally honest, I think it was more about Jesus following me. I didn't want to go anywhere without him. But it wasn't about me serving His purposes. It was about Him serving my purposes. I think many Christians have an inverted relationship with Christ. Call it spiritual selfishness. Our relationship with Him is all about us. And then we wonder why we're unfulfilled and bored with our faith.
Are you following Jesus? Or is Jesus following you?
9 Comments:
Mark, thanks for the thoughts about inverted Christianity. So true. I'm guilty more than I'd like to say. I will be using your words as the opener for my sermon this weekend. They fit so well.
Danny - College Station, TX
Ouch. I think we all have to constantly evaluate where we're at in this regard. Rick Warren's opening line in Purpose Driven Life - "It's not about you." Gotta keep hammering that into my thick head...and thick heart.
Yeah yeah yeah.
ThanX 4 the reminder, but I'll probably just press the snooze button again &again.
Suits me better, because my skull is almost impenetrable.
I URGENTLY NEED A CRACK 4 THE LIGHT TO SHINE IN!
X
This is very true with many Christians. Is it possible that the phrase, "ask Jesus into your heart" (which is found no where in Scripture) has helped create this Jesus following me mentality?
I much prefer the phrase you quoted , "follow me" (which IS in Scripture).
At least for the last part of my 16 years I've been following...apart from a few derails were He had to come after me...but rather on a rescue mission. Thanks for the insight. God bless
Wow! This makes me question my service...is it what I WANT to do, or what HE WANTS me to do. Any suggestions on how to determine which it is???
Wow! This makes me question my service...is it what I WANT to do, or what HE WANTS me to do. Any suggestions on how to determine which it is???
I have a favorite painting by Caravaggio, The Calling of St Matthew. Its on my screen saver always to remind me nothing could go wrong if I follow him. @RickWarren "Only those who throw away their lives ...know what it means to really live" Mk8:35 LB
I think this quote from Kierkegaard in Shane Caliborne's The Irresistable Revolution is very applicable to this post, "To want to admire instead of follow, Christ is not an invention of bad people; no it is more an invention of those who spinelessly want to keep themselves detached at a safe distance from Jesus." This really hit me hard as I admire Christ more than anyone else. However, when I look in the mirror it is apparent that I am not much of a follower!
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