Go and Be Jesus!
In life and faith, character and conduct, belief and behavior – at home, at work and in our every day life, let’s go and be Jesus. As 1 Timothy 4:12b says, “…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” Are we? John 1:18 adds this, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only (Jesus, God’s Son) who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” The question is, as Jesus-followers – are we? Are we making God known in our life and faith? See, it’s so much more than doing things for Jesus – it’s being Jesus; that is, living a life that reflects and honors Him no matter what life dishes out. As 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” So, let’s go and be Jesus. But how?
A.W. Tozer once said, “Modern religion focuses upon filling churches with people. The true gospel emphasizes filling people with God.” That’s our heart’s desire and goal here at Central Christian – to help individuals root, grow and deepen their personal relationship with Jesus Christ so the world will see – not us, but Jesus as Matthew 5:13a, 14a,16 says, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” To accomplish this we’ve designed a cycle of spiritual growth summarized in 4 B’s as follows
– Choosing to Belong! Belong TO Jesus! Romans 12:5b, “We belong to each other, and each needs all the others.”
– Choosing to Believe! Believe IN Jesus! 1 John 5:5, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
– Choosing to Become! Become LIKE Jesus! 1 John 2:6, “Those who say the live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” Then…
– Choosing to Bless! Bless BY going and being Jesus! Luke 6:28 & 38, “…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…give, and it will be given to you…for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
What’s intriguing is that the early New Testament followers did exactly these things as recorded in Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32-35. The powerful result of going and being Jesus? Acts 2:47b tells us, “…and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Those who did not have a personal relationship with Jesus desired one – why? Because those following Jesus were living their life in such a powerful way that those who didn’t know Jesus, wanted to know Him. Can the same be said of us today? I so hope so! As 2 Corinthians 5:15b,17, “…those who receive new life in Jesus Christ will no longer live for themselves. Instead they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them…this means, that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Amen & Amen! So, let’s GO and BE Jesus friends! Let’s impact our world for Jesus! I’m in; are you?
Come and join us this Sunday at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. as we unpack this personal vision for us. See you then friends. God bless.
Choosing and Following Jesus,
Pastor Doug
