WHAT MAKES JESUS SO IRRESISTIBLE?

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More than anyone else, Jesus has impacted the world. There are more volumes written about Jesus than any other person ever! When a person honestly encounters the teachings and principles of Jesus, that person rarely stays the same. Jesus has the power to change people-to turn people inside out and to turn the world upside down.

I have owned and operated several counseling centers over the years. After observing thousands of people come and go as they make their way through life's struggles, I have come to understand the best advice that I've ever offered. Whatever a person is going through, there is always a need for wisdom and the power to live that wisdom out. This is where I introduce Jesus into the therapy equation. When I encourage people to seek the wisdom and advice of Jesus, I am sending them to one who can actually give them exactly what they need. Jesus is the best source of peace, love, joy, hope and the most effective Higher Power ever. In relationships, Jesus unites; everyone and everything else seem to divide.

There are so many reasons I could list about this irresistible Jesus. One of my favorite writings from Paul is what he says to the gathering of Jesus followers in the city of Colossae. He says: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him.

So, what makes Jesus so irresistible? Generally, what makes Jesus so irresistible is that He is all about bringing Good News to the world. He's into Good News in a world that is filled with a continual flow of bad news. In fact, Jesus, Himself, is the Good News!

There are three things that stand out about Jesus that I want you to keep in mind. FIRST-The salvation of Jesus is remarkable! I grew up believing that salvation only had to do with going to heaven and avoiding hell. There is so much more to salvation than that. Literally, salvation means "to make wide"-to provide freedom from being stuck, so that one is free to be! Salvation means God will come through on your behalf. This is why we are urged through the Scriptures to wait and see the mighty Hand of God. Salvation means safety and security-maintaining a life unafraid of the many dangers that lurk around us. Salvation means healing-emotional and physical well-being-wholeness. The salvation of Jesus destroys the purposes of evil forces and you can count on it. One more thing here: the salvation of Jesus means the proactive presence of God among His people-right here, right now.

SECOND-The speech of Jesus is riveting! It was riveting, because unlike all other teachers of His day Jesus didn't quote any local, religious authorities. He stood on His own authority and this was amazing to all who heard Him speak. Jesus' teachings were also riveting in that what He said made sense. Jesus continued to resonate with His audiences in a powerful way.

THIRD-The search of Jesus is relentless! Jesus illustrates this through His parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son. Jesus made it clear that He was willing to do anything to bring the Good News to even one, lost person. Jesus walked throughout the land of Israel offering His loving touch to all who needed it. Even today Jesus is in the proactive stance of courting you with His love and He is awaiting your response to His love.

By the way, not only is Jesus the way, the truth and the life. He stands as the short cut to a relationship with the God of gods. Religions are the long way to God. Religions seek to bring man to a right standing with God. Within the typical religious systems you must perform religious acts and follow religious tenets. Even child, human and animal sacrifices have been used to pay some debt to God. There is a built-in payment system inside man's psyche-feeling a need to somehow pay for forgiveness. Jesus cuts all of this performance and sacrifice out and offers a short cut. The short cut is not a religious system of do's and don'ts; it's a person. His name is Jesus.

It's all a matter of getting to know Jesus for your self. This is why we are diligently pursuing writing an extensive curriculum about just Jesus and His teachings-simply Jesus. No matter your cultural background you can't help but bring religious or anti-religious blinders along with you as you look at Jesus.

I want to encourage you to use this next series of podcasts to do your best to get a better glimpse of simply Jesus. The best place I've found to see Jesus is within the five Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts. The entire Scriptures speak of Jesus, but the Gospels clearly articulate Jesus and His teachings. So, over the next few weeks and months we're going to move through the Gospel of Matthew, then Mark, Luke, John and Acts. Let's make it our goal to see Jesus, so we can get to know Him better.

The irresistible Jesus wants to turn you Inside Out-the REALITY of knowing Him-in order to turn your world Upside Down-the RESULT of knowing Him and making Him known! DO YOU KNOW JESUS OR JUST A LOT ABOUT HIM?