EMBRACE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS

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In searching for a few universal agreements that any follower of Jesus from any cultural background can embrace in order to walk together in unity, no matter the lesser disagreements, I have settled on six of them. The first is easy: EMBRACE THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS AS A LIFESTYLE.
Three passages come to mind-one from Luke, one from Matthew and the last is from John. FIRST-Luke 14:25-35: Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: Jesus awakened a lot of emotion and attention among so many people who were following along after Him. So many were in the crowd of followers and probably for a variety of reasons. One day as they were moving along en masse, Jesus turns His attention directly at them and challenged them with three prerequisites to be an authentic follower. They are not easy. In Jesus' mind these are the essentials for being a disciple-a follower of Jesus. These are the things Jesus expects from any and all followers everywhere.

Jesus says: (1) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even life itself-such a person cannot be my disciple." This is the prerequisite of making Jesus your highest priority. This has been so misunderstood. It doesn't have to do with hating anyone. It literally means that a disciple of Jesus has to come to the point where he or she sets aside all other relationships as secondary to his or her relationship with Jesus. This is the pre-eminence of Jesus over all relationships, even over your own life!

Then Jesus says: (2) "And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." This is the prerequisite of making Jesus your highest priority no matter what. This has to do with keeping Jesus as your priority through great perseverance-no matter what happens to you, Jesus is still your most important relationship.

Jesus finally says: (3) In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." This is the prerequisite of what you're going to do with your possessions. It's not saying to give over everything you have to someone else or to some organization; He's saying it's important to give up your ownership of all of your possessions. The word for possessions is best seen as referring to all of your stuff, including all that you are-your very existence!

Note one thing Jesus repeats with each of the prerequisites. He says, "You cannot be my disciple, unless you do these things." It's not that you cannot be a good disciple, but that you cannot be a disciple at all.

The SECOND passage that comes to mind that speaks to embracing the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle is Matthew 7:21-29: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Here are people who speak in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in His name and performed many miracles in Jesus' name, yet they were not genuinely connected with Jesus. He makes it clear that "only those who do the will of the Father will enter." Jesus then goes on to define clearly what it means to do the will of His Father.

He says: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Doing the will of His Father is to hear Jesus' words and practice them. To hear the words of Jesus and not practice them doesn't get it. In a sense, doing the will of His Father-hearing Jesus' words and practicing them-is what it means to embrace the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle. With eyes to see what Jesus does and ears to hear what He is saying you can then practice the life and teachings of Jesus and embrace them as your lifestyle.

The THIRD passage that comes to mind that sums up what it takes to embrace the life and teachings of Jesus as a lifestyle is John 12:26: "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

It's clear! Whoever serves Jesus must follow Him, not just know a lot of things about Him. And, wherever Jesus is His servant will be also. Then, Jesus' Father will honor this one who serves and follows. So, stick close to Jesus, serve Him and follow Him. Hang out with Jesus in all that you do and you will find yourself embracing the life and teachings of Jesus as your lifestyle. Try it out!

WHAT HOLDS THE JESUS MOVEMENT TOGETHER

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In the last few weeks I've been in some fascinating meetings where I've experienced the ugly tension of Christians fighting Christians over things that don't matter. Oh, I know each side believes the issue matters, but when the name of Jesus or acceptance of Jesus is at stake all things are secondary and insignificant. If you hold anything-any teaching or tradition or belief system-higher than lifting up the person of Jesus to another person, then you are not following Jesus, but you're following that "anything" you placed above Him. When I see this kind of in-fighting over insignificant things, I am reminded of one of the many instances where Jesus pulled off a clear miracle from God, yet the religious moved into a fighting, even hateful. Here's what happened:  

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:1-6

A man has obviously been healed. He's experienced a supernatural touch from God, yet the grumbling begins. This is no different today. There are many followers of Jesus who have observed Jesus apprehending the hearts and minds of men and women in other cultures and as they follow Jesus they don't plant churches and don't call themselves Christians. It's a real phenomenon! It's an authentic Jesus movement breaking out without looking and sounding Christian, yet there is no doubt these masses of people have been touched by Jesus Himself.

I have been aware of this for several years. It's a wonderful thing! Now, there are Christians who are organizing themselves against this kind of thing. They say that this movement is invalid and non-biblical, because they aren't planted into churches and they are not becoming Christians. This anti-movement is doing its best to cut off the supply of funds for those who are promoting this non-traditional Jesus movement. They are even gathering in conferences and events to do so! How sick and wrong is this?

It seems to me that the bottom line issue is to discover the absolute essentials for us to believe and hold sacred so that we will advance the Jesus movement? What is it that we can all agree upon in the midst of our various disagreements? How can we walk together, even though our cultural beliefs and traditions greatly differ?

I have a friend who is from a Church of Christ background and is still enjoying fellowship in that tradition. We agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, but we disagree about whether baptism is required for man's salvation. I have several Catholic friends who do things in their services that I just don't understand and I usually feel very lost as I attend a Mass. On the other hand, when they attend my traditional church service, they don't believe they have gone to church, but to a seminar. As followers of Jesus we can agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, even though we disagree how a church service ought to be conducted. This same thinking can be taken through every flavor of Christianity as well as within the non-Christian religious cultures. We can find agreement in Jesus, even when we disagree on the lesser things.

Well, the question then is what are the primary things and what are the lesser things? Over the next six days I want to suggest six primary commitments that I have come to believe holds the Jesus movement together.

To set us up for this little series of thoughts I want to suggest two reminders as we think in terms of the Jesus movement. FIRST-The Jesus movement is answering the summons or call of Jesus on your life-"FOLLOW ME!" That sets the movement in motion. SECOND-The Jesus movement is all about making disciples of all cultures. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

There is only one command here-MAKE DISCIPLES! And, there are three participles: (1) By going-that's introducing people to this Jesus-advancing the conversation of Jesus. (2) By baptizing-that's identifying people as followers of Jesus as they begin to lean in. The disciples didn't know and believe much when they began to follow Jesus. (3) By teaching-that's instructing people who want to follow Jesus to practice all that He taught.

All of this culminates in the miracle of incarnation-fleshing out Jesus in your life-walking, talking, loving, thinking and bleeding like Jesus. This all happens within the context of walking with others in this movement. Going back to a simple familiar statement: "It's knowing Jesus and making Him known." These six agreements can become a unifying covenant that holds the Jesus movement together. Stay tuned!

THE FREEDOM AND FORGIVENESS OF JESUS

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On this day of celebration of our freedom in this great country, there is a greater freedom to celebrate! In fact, the freedom I am speaking of has to do with personal freedom. It's the freedom that if you have it, then you could live under political domination and still be free. Or, if you don't have it, you could live in the freest of countries and still be enslaved. There is only one kingdom on planet earth where you can celebrate true freedom inside out and that is in the kingdom of God, where Jesus is King. Where the King is, there is the kingdom. And where Jesus is, there is FREEDOM.
I grew up enslaved as a kid by people who didn't understand this freedom. You see, you can know lots about Jesus and still not experience His freedom. The letter to the fellowship of believers in Galatia deals with this issue as its primary theme. In Galatians 5 the writer says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love."

The letter to the fellowship of believers in Rome is the basic source for the Galatian letter and in chapter 8 Paul says, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." You can't get much clearer than NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN JESUS.

Jesus said to those who believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Now the way I figure it, those of us who are doing the best we can to walk with Jesus, walk with others and wait on Jesus to lead out are walking as disciples of Jesus and continuing in His word, therefore we ought to know His freedom in our lives and celebrate it!

In the Acts of Jesus (13:38-39) this freedom is summed with, "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses."

The best invitation to freedom is from Jesus Himself when He says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." All who are weary and burdened down with all of the religious systems of performance out there that produce every level of guilt imaginable. You are the ones Jesus is calling to COME TO HIM. Then note He is calling you and me into REST. That rest is the freedom of not having to pay attention to the religiosities of our world and world systems and of our church and cultural systems that weigh us down. JESUS IS CALLING US TO BE HIS DISCIPLES AND THAT CALL IS AN INVITATION TO REST. AND THAT REST IS AN INVITATION TO FREEDOM.

I sum it up this way: YOU CANNOT BE A FREE PERSON UNTIL YOU BECOME BOUND TO THE PERSON OF JESUS!

SECRET #75 OF FOLLOWING JESUS

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We have arrived at the final secret of following Jesus-secret #75. I began with the intent of listing out a few key principles of following Jesus that might help all who are interested to follow Him more closely. When I first responded to the challenge to make such a list, I thought there might be 30 principles, 50 at the most. Then, after spending more time, it was clear that the list would be much larger. So, on a flight to Washington DC to meet with some friends, I took out a pad and the list of 75 principles flowed out. It was amazing. Since the day I started writing, I have kept the discipline of not looking ahead. Each day I faced the next secret freshly and wrote it out. I kept this particular secret as the final one.  
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34) SECRET #75: The follower of Jesus lives life one day at a time.

I've said it many times: YESTERDAY is a canceled check! TOMORROW is a promissory note! TODAY is the only cash you have! We waste so much of our lives regretting the past or fearing the future.

Alcoholics Anonymous and all of the other Anon groups operate upon the theme of "ONE DAY AT A TIME." This is exactly what Jesus is saying here-one day at a time. Worry has little to do with the past, but mostly has to do with the future. We worry over what might happen or what might not happen. It's not in our control, but we spend lots of energy as if our worry could make a difference in the outcome. Jesus says "Don't bother!" Each day has plenty of trouble of its own without worrying about the tomorrows.

Jesus is teaching that if you are seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, He will take care of everything else you need. He will do this ONE DAY AT A TIME. This is what He did with the children of Israel about one month into their 40 years of wandering. He rained down bread from heaven-manna-each day, except on Sabbath.

Each day the manna came down from heaven. Each day they were to gather enough for the day, never thinking of storing up some for tomorrow. Each day there was enough. Jesus is the "new manna in town." Jesus is our daily bread. The word "manna" means a surprise like "What is it?" I see Jesus giving each of us a surprise of His manna, His leadership, His sustenance each and every day for those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

We practice these habits in order to gather the manna for today, which helps in minimizing our worry factor. 1. Walking with Jesus. 2. Walking with others who are walking with Jesus. 3. Waiting on Jesus to lead out with orders and opportunities. Remember, these aren't doctrines or just things to know, but habits to practice every day-all day long.

Have you noticed that when you think about tomorrow or next week, then the worries become overwhelming? I have to constantly focus my thinking and reflection upon today. It's learning how to live in the present-to live in the presence of Jesus. This is SECRET #75: The follower of Jesus lives life one day at a time.

This goes along with the message of the book of Ecclesiastes. King Solomon had tried everything to fill his life with satisfaction and all was found to be empty-luxury, liquor, lust, etc. He sums up his life's search with two summary truths: 1. Fear God and keep His commandments. 2. Enjoy your blessings every day!

Now, that's living life ONE DAY AT A TIME.

SECRET #74 OF FOLLOWING JESUS

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As you read the stories of the life of Jesus you will see something happen over and over. People kept bringing others to Jesus. Early in Jesus' ministry Andrew brought his brother, Peter, to Jesus. Because of this introduction, Peter became a follower and a prominent leader in the early Jesus movement.
 Friends brought people to Jesus. Mark records: When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. (Mark 5:1-4) When Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic's friends, Jesus moved into gear. He quickly dealt with the paralytic's spiritual problem by saying, "Your sins are forgiven." This was shocking to everyone in the house. Jesus didn't do the obvious thing of healing the paralytic physically, but went straight to the man's heart, then He healed his paralysis.

Enemies brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. They wanted to see what Jesus would do with such a case. Jesus again shocked them by standing with the adulterous woman and challenging her accusers to go ahead and stone her, if any of them was without sin in his own life.

People who were desperate for healing of their loved ones came in mass to Jesus. When Jesus landed on the Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee in a non-Jewish community, the people were so enthused about what they had heard that they brought to Jesus all who were sick.

Children were brought to Jesus. Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:13-14)

This brings us to SECRET #74: The follower of Jesus seeks to introduce Jesus to all who seem interested. If you are a follower of Jesus, then introducing Him in every way possible becomes a major part of your lifestyle. It's really quite easy. When you see someone doing something Jesus would do, point it out. Tell them that their act of kindness is something Jesus would do. You will be amazed how effective that can be. You might even let them know that you are doing the toughest thing you've ever tried to do in your life-to follow the teachings and principles of Jesus.

I am all about doing whatever I can do to advance the conversation of Jesus. This is really introducing people to Jesus without all of the religious baggage that tends to be hung around His neck. When someone is hurting, introduce him to Jesus; not to be converted into a certain religious faith or stance. When someone is looking for some answers, introduce him to Jesus. Rather than giving your friend all of your advice, how about encouraging him to ask Jesus for the answers he's looking for.

When Jesus shows up no one is the same again. The dead are brought back to life. The blind see. The lame walk. The deaf hear. The mute talk. Enemies and rivals become friends. Women's status is elevated. People with all kinds of leprosy are cleansed and made whole. The poor are made rich. The rich realize their poverty. The lost are found. The weak finds strength. The strong are made aware of weakness. The children are affirmed and empowered!

Now, here's my point. If Jesus brings positive transformation in every life He encounters, then doesn't it make sense for us to introduce everyone we can to this Jesus? You see, when Jesus shows up, no one is ever the same again! This is SECRET #74: The follower of Jesus seeks to introduce Jesus to all who seem interested.