Follow the Real Jesus

I am going to get a bit controversial here for a minute. I don’t want to offend and imply anything, this is my own thoughts. I am not a fan of wearing a cross around my neck. I know many people do and it is their full decision to do so. I do not need the badge around my neck that can and will be seen and judged. I am not perfect and will always be a sinner. When others see the cross, the judging begins and there is potential, to me, for the immediate cynical thought of showing one thing and then doing other things. I know that I am cynical, but I will say that it does not come without reality. I have seen too often the distortion of Jesus to fit into the box we have for Him at that moment. Now, the real Jesus is not a cross. He died on a cross for my sins so that I would not have to. I pray that is the reason for the wearing of the cross.

In my study this morning we explore the “right” or real Jesus. James MacDonald points to caricatures to show how we “paint” Him to be something or a number of things. The caricatures are; Jesus is my buddy, my safety net or good luck charm, my religious artifact, my meal ticket, and/or my social conscience. Notice that the caricatures all point to Jesus as a thing. And, He is thought of as “mine” as if I somehow own Him and we can use Him when it pleases us our we find “need” to call on Him.

“³But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (ESV)

Paul points out to the church at Corinth the fickle nature we hold. We are subject to that which is in our view. We are concerned with acceptance of and hold back from reality. We are fascinated with the “truth of the moment” and less about the truth. The real Jesus is not a thing, He is more than my buddy, He is my friend. Jesus is not just my safety net or good luck charm, He is my guide and protector. Jesus is not my religious artifact, He is my LORD. Jesus is not my meal ticket, He is my master and I serve Him. Jesus is not my social conscience, He is the Truth.

We have to get to the place where Jesus is LORD and not just a thing. Jesus is not just part of our lives, He is the focus of our life. The real Jesus is not the “truth of the moment”, He is the Truth of our life.

James MacDonald writes, “The problem with a caricature is that the truth is in there, but it’s distorted by an emphasis of one thing to the exclusion of others.” It is the capture of the “truth of the moment” and not as just the truth. The real Jesus is The Truth and does not change with the moment. Oh, yes, Jesus does provide what we need when we need it, but He does not change to fit what we want out of a moment. He provides the truth that we can rely on forever.

How are you looking at Jesus? Do you see Him as a thing to help you make it from one point to another? What if you saw Him as real and The Truth as opposed to the “truth of the moment”?

You Choose Whom You Serve

It is pretty clear in this world and life that we are the masters of our choices, as we have grown to understand them that is. As a small child we are not in understanding and therefor rely on our parents to decide for us. But now that we are not small children, we are in control of our choices and decisions.

The title of my writing this morning is the same as my study passage from James MacDonald. We are indeed in charge of our choices and the object of our service is certainly in that realm of choice. We like to think that we are the product of our circumstances and that things are left to chance and where it appears that way, it is not true. Yes, things happen and we are left to work through that which follows, but we can either be the victims or lean in and serve the one really in charge as we work through them. God allows things to happen and we have the choice to serve Him or abandon them in favor of ourselves or some other entity.

“¹⁵And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

The Israelite people had the choice to serve the LORD or serve the idols of their ancestors or serve themselves. Joshua pointed out their choice and was clear where he and his family landed. And he made it clear that once the decision was made, the commitment would be held to account. God would remember and the outcome would not be of the people’s liking.

“¹⁹But Joshua said to the people, ‘You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ²⁰If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.’” – Joshua 24:19-20 (ESV)

It is not just of words that we commit to serve. It is in action. We can say that we will serve, but not until the action is taken does the service come to being. Lori and I are members of a church plant, although we are now going on 5 years now. As a part of our membership, we committed to volunteer our service. But, just saying we would volunteer does not make it so, it is in our action of service that we are demonstrating our service. And for the 5 years of the Bridge Fellowship, we have served.

With God and service to Him, it is not something we can say and then get away with avoidance. He is watching and keeping account. As noted in verses 19 and 20 above, if we have committed and then turn away, we will be dealt with and held to account. Even as we were once doing as we committed. The choice is for now and forever.

I want to be careful to point out that our choice to serve is not a condition of our salvation. When we choose the LORD for our salvation (in our heart, mind, and body), that choice is made. We are saved. And then comes the next choice, to serve Him. We are still sinners and will be swayed easily by the evil one. We will still be subjected to the ways of the world. So, just because we have accepted salvation through the grace, mercy, and love of God, our job is not done. Service to Him comes next.

“⁵Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,” – Ephesians 6:5-7 (ESV)

We do choose whom we serve. We are to make it clear and then act on that choice. The words have meaning to tell others of our choice, but it is the actions we take that demonstrates that choice. As Paul notes in his letter to the Ephesians to do “the will of God from the heart,…as to the LORD and not to man”. Actions speak louder than words and it is our actions that demonstrate our choice of just who we serve.

What actions are you taking to demonstrate your service? Have you said the words of choice and now leave it to chance as to how it plays out? What if you demonstrate your service to the LORD through your actions “from the heart,…as to the LORD and not to man”?

Who You Gonna Serve

“²⁴No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

This morning as I continued my study into choices, I was reminded that we have to choose to serve somebody. At this I was reminded of the verse above that we cannot serve God and money. That we cannot have two masters in our lives. Where money and the challenges it poses was not the focus of my study this morning, it is certainly one of those things that vies for our attention and service.

Where we are giving our attention is where our service lies. Is it a work and our devotion to that work. Are we spending so much time there that it is keeping us from other things in our lives. Is it in an idol or group that steals us away from other places in our life. Is it in an individual that consumes our being so much that no other person even really exists in our lives. Or, is it in ourselves, where we are more focused on getting ours that the rest seems to go by the wayside.

Either of these will certainly take up our attention and drive us away from the others. But what if we were to chose the one to serve that ultimately leads us back to all of the others that we may be separated from. Jesus and God’s Word is the one authority we serve that leads us back to all others. Our service to God not only gives us purpose each day, but that purpose is in assisting others achieve what God has for them as well.

We should be choosing God. Oh, don’t get me wrong, however we come to know God is great, it is the choosing Him that gets us where we should be. But, when we choose Him, we are making the conscious decision to serve Him. Sometimes I believe that sometimes, people “come” to God, selfishly looking for the next thing in their list of accomplishments. It was a choice of convenience to get something and then the choice is abandoned for the next thing on the list. There is a lack of service to the LORD and a looking for something from the LORD instead.

You cannot give your attention to more than one. Even by not “choosing” where to put your service is a choice in and of itself. By not choosing, you have chosen ambiguity and chaos. You have nowhere to put your trust and devotion. You have chosen to drift and where drifting may be okay in the moment, ultimately it leads you nowhere, at least nowhere of any real consequence to you. You are simply living for yourself and the momentary “happiness” that fades when the moment is gone.

Stumbling or expecting to drift into the LORD is not the way. Make the conscious choice to serve Him. As noted in the Matthew 6:24 above, you can only love and be devoted to one master. When we choose to serve the LORD, He gives back to us the lasting joy that cannot be found in things of this world. By choosing the LORD and serving Him, we are rewarded with that which we need and blessings that we don’t deserve based on the sin we commit and the sinner we are.

Who do you choose to serve? Are you looking to serve yourself or something else to get that momentary “happiness”? What if you were to choose lasting joy and the only one you can serve to provide it, our LORD Jesus Christ?

God Will Serve Us

Yes, you read that right. God will serve us. When we arrive in the New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem we will see God’s face, He will dwell among us, He will be personal with each of us, and He will serve us.

“³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” – John 13:3-5 (ESV)

“²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” – John 14:2-3 (ESV)

“11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” – Revelation 19:11 (ESV)

Jesus served His disciples in the upper room by washing their feet. He has prepared a place for us. He personally comes to make war against the evil one for us. All of these things He could have others do on His behalf, yet He demonstrates for us the service that we should all ascribe to.

It does not stop with what God has done for us, it leads into what He will do for us in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. He will make meals for us, wipe away our tears, and remove disgrace. Again, all things that He could command others to do, but NO, He continues to demonstrate service and desires to do so.

“⁶On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food,…

⁸and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,”

— Isaiah 25:6&8 (ESV)

I am overwhelmed by this realization that God will serve me when I arrive in the New Heaven. He will not just be at the top of the hill for me to see. He will not just dwell among me as I worship. He will not just meet with me personally. He will serve me. He will be my host at the greatest bed and breakfast there will ever be. If He will do this for me, the least of them, I can do the same and serve all.

What is your view of God’s actions when you see Him? Did you expect that He will sit on the throne while you worship Him? What about now, knowing that He will serve you himself and not just sit around waiting on you to serve Him?

Who will You Choose to Serve

What is at the top of your priority list? Monitory wealth, health, fun, family, God, work? What is it that when listed out, falls at the top of the list? This is what you serve. It is a misconception that you can have it both ways. We are only able to serve one and that would be the one at the top of the list.

Notice in the title of this post I have mentioned the idea of choosing. Yes, you and I have the ability to choose what is at the top of the list of priorities to serve. The list I mentioned is just a short one and is not all inclusive, but serves to show that there are lots of competing priorities in our lives. It is up to us to choose the one that is at the top of the list.

Here Joshua is speaking with the people of Israel and advising them of service. They have come in contact with a number of gods over their time and lineage. He is not telling them they “have” to follow the LORD. He is advising that they do have free will to choose. But, their choice should be made and they should not be uncommitted to one or the other, while providing for them his choice to serve the LORD.

We likewise have the choice. The LORD provided us with free will. He allowed for you and me to choose from all of those competing priorities in our lives. Where they are important, they all cannot be the most important thing, for if they are all of the same importance then none of them are of importance at all. There must be that one that is found at the top of the list that we will ultimately serve regardless of the other priorities that come up.

I choose to serve the LORD and will rely on Him for all. Yes, I will continue to have other things that are on my list, but regardless of what those are, they fall 2^nd and below to my service to the LORD. I know that my service to the LORD will lead to that grand inheritance in heaven and that what He has for me in this world comes as a result of my service to Him.

What do you choose? Are you looking at all of your priorities and placing one at the top of the list? What if you were to choose to serve the LORD first and foremost and placed all the rest of your priorities 2^nd and below on the list?

What Will You Give For Love

This morning I get to see just how much someone would give for love. Although this is just a short span in the grand scheme of things, it is a great amount of time none the less.

“¹⁸Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ ³⁰So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.” – Genesis 29:18&30 (ESV)

Jacob fell in love with Rachel at first sight of her. He loved her so much that he gladly gave seven years of his life to have her. Then it was that he did not receive her and was again glad to serve another seven years for her. This is dedication to love.

As of my writing this, I and Lori have been married for 28 years. And yes, that is double the time Jacob spent in service to receive his love. I work every day for this love. I give of myself to a fault. I do all things for her and for my boys. I sacrifice myself for them in love of them and will continue to do so.

I have to remember that this life is not my own. I am here to serve. I am here to give of myself to the one that I love and 28 years, well, I am just getting started. My first love is for the LORD. He gave me life and for that I will serve Him. He gives me eternity in heaven and for that I serve Him for eternity.

How much time are you willing to give for love? Are you impatient with delays? What if you recognized that the LORD has already given to you and you can and should give Him all of you for all time?

Satisfy the Desire of Others

Yes, as we know through our study of God’s Word, we are to serve others. Part of that serving is to satisfy the desire of others.

“⁹Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

¹⁰if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.”

— Isaiah 58:9-10 (ESV)

Here is the how. We are to satisfy the desire, not just of others, but for those who are having a difficult time. My role is to guide them, care for them, provide for them, and ensure that they are in a position to see the LORD and be less concerned with that which is weighing on them at that time.

Yes, we are to serve all and do the work of the LORD for all. Yet it will be those in the difficult positions that will recognize the service to them and will benefit from the service in the moment. We are not to do it to be seen, but simply for the betterment of the one in need.

But, you say, what about me? I know just what you are thinking as I think the same thing. I am having a difficult time and when/where will my desire be satisfied? That is the best part. When we are doing the work of the LORD, the difficulties will still be there, yet we will also have the LORD and our community on our side to help out. When I have served others, selfishly, they will serve me the same way.

I recently have been looking as to what is next for me. Now I am not looking to abandon what I am doing, just looking for something that I can add that I can use to do more. Lori and I are on our own again and there is time available to take on more. I have been praying for it. I feel some challenge and am looking for God’s guidance. As mentioned before, we are members of a church plant and as such Lori and I volunteer our time to make it work. Even as we have a scheduled time and work to do, we jump in when there is a need and help out. As we have, God allowed us to be seen helping and led one of our pastors to invite me to a discipleship group. This invitation led to my next thing.

When we are giving selfishly to satisfy the desire of those in need, in return we will be made whole at some point. Our role is to satisfy others and the LORD will work to satisfy us.

What are you doing to satisfy others? Are you doing so to get something out of it? What if you just did the work of the LORD and assisted those in need, knowing that God will satisfy your needs in due time?