Wanna see a good example of what makes the gospel of Jesus different from the world...different from what everyone around us thinks it takes to live a good life? Check out this meme, which I saw on Instagram last night:
A good, solid Christian message, right?
Not really.
The first part, okay. We definitely should not waste our lives on things that don't matter. The focus of life should be on people, relationships, and loving God. Those are things that matter.
But the second part? Well, it sounds good. Who wants to to waste time on people that don't appreciate it? What a waste.
Except that is exactly what Jesus did, and it's what separates true discipleship from a feel-good, me-first, get-me-to-heaven, meet-my-material-needs gospel.
This meme says, Love those who love you. Those who can and will return your affection.
Jesus said, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
The meme says, If they mistreat you, don't give them the time of day.
Jesus said, If they strike on one cheek, turn the other. If they ask you (unfairly) to carry their stuff one mile, volunteer to carry it two.
The meme is saying, You can only take so much. If they treat you as worthless, give up on them.
Jesus said, Forgive them over and over and over and.....(70 x 7).
And most importantly, Jesus put his words into action. He went to a cross and died for everyone, including millions and millions who reject him and say with their lives, You don't matter, Jesus. He died from them, and still pursues them desperately urging them to change their hearts and minds.
A waste? No, it's what God designed us for. And the way we can tell someone who is really captured by the Spirit of God is when they do "waste" their life on those who think they don't matter. That is not natural. Or more precisely, it's supernatural. Nobody would do that on their own; it takes the resurrection power of the Messiah living in them.
When is something wasted? Here's the perspective of a woman whom Jesus encountered:
What did you think of the meme?
A good, solid Christian message, right?
Not really.
The first part, okay. We definitely should not waste our lives on things that don't matter. The focus of life should be on people, relationships, and loving God. Those are things that matter.
But the second part? Well, it sounds good. Who wants to to waste time on people that don't appreciate it? What a waste.
Except that is exactly what Jesus did, and it's what separates true discipleship from a feel-good, me-first, get-me-to-heaven, meet-my-material-needs gospel.
This meme says, Love those who love you. Those who can and will return your affection.
Jesus said, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
The meme says, If they mistreat you, don't give them the time of day.
Jesus said, If they strike on one cheek, turn the other. If they ask you (unfairly) to carry their stuff one mile, volunteer to carry it two.
The meme is saying, You can only take so much. If they treat you as worthless, give up on them.
Jesus said, Forgive them over and over and over and.....(70 x 7).
And most importantly, Jesus put his words into action. He went to a cross and died for everyone, including millions and millions who reject him and say with their lives, You don't matter, Jesus. He died from them, and still pursues them desperately urging them to change their hearts and minds.
A waste? No, it's what God designed us for. And the way we can tell someone who is really captured by the Spirit of God is when they do "waste" their life on those who think they don't matter. That is not natural. Or more precisely, it's supernatural. Nobody would do that on their own; it takes the resurrection power of the Messiah living in them.
When is something wasted? Here's the perspective of a woman whom Jesus encountered:
What did you think of the meme?
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