I had coffee with a friend last night. We touched on a good many topics, but the underlying agreement between us was that it is time to cut through the fluff and get down to some serious Bible. Read what it says. Believe what it says. Do what it says. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
Actually, it is.
But herein lies the problem. The gospel of Jesus Christ, in its simplicity, goes against the grain of human nature. Because it’s uncomfortable. It’s convicting. It’s a commitment.
So . . .
Instead of reading, believing and doing, we’ve created a user-friendly Jesus. We’ve twisted Him into a version we are more comfortable with. We’ve molded Him into our image instead of allowing Him to mold us into His. We’ve come to Him and said, “I’ll listen to what you have to say, and then I’ll decide whether or not I like it.” In a nutshell, we don’t take Jesus seriously.
We live in a world dominated by self-advancement, self- esteem, and self-sufficiency. It’s all about individualism and materialism. Who needs Jesus when we can do it all by ourselves?
I’m thinking about this today. Praying, and asking God to show me where I need to make some corrections in my life. I don’t want to hear His words and walk away, content to settle for anything less than obedience to Him. I want to experience the consequences of really believing and really doing what the Bible says. Because if Jesus is who He said He is, and if His promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then maybe the satisfaction and success I think I have in my life are nothing compared with total abandonment to Jesus.
I’m not interested in a user-friendly gospel that can be manipulated to suit my own personal comforts.
Because that’s not a gospel at all.
I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all,
I’ll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrendered,
All I am is Yours.
Inside the Writer 
Awesome challenging word that I think many North-American Christians need to hear! When I read the title, I thought of how many people just ‘use’ Jesus, instead of allowing Him to be the surpeme Lord and Master of our lives… It also made me think of this quote by CS Lewis: “God does not find our desires too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures playing around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who goes on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation by the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Reblogging this!
Much appreciated, Chris, as always! Thank you.
Reblogged this on New Life and commented:
Check out this challenging post by my friend and fellow blogger Wendy over at “Inside the Writer”…
This was so encouraging. I often find myself trying to force God into a box instead of solely allowing God to be as great and powerful as He is. This definitely poses a challenge for Christians everywhere. Let God be God! He doesn’t need to be molded into our plans. He is perfection.
I like what you said – let God be God!
This is the kind of message that Christians need to hear. It challenges us to be real and analyze ourselves. Most Christians try to compartmentalize God for just Sunday mornings because that just so happens to be the most convenient day to do so. We don’t take sundays as a day of rest anymore, the world is too busy, too distracting, and Satan delights in this. Satan loves it when we do not hear the full Truth about Jesus and loves it when people try to, as you’ve said, we have ” created a user-friendly Jesus. ” So that Jesus doesn’t get in the way of our worldly life. It is rather sad to think about. I also want to thank you for writing this, it’s an inspiration for a new blogger like myself. Your post has given me an idea or two about how to go about challenging believers to quit living a fantasy life where compartmentalizing God is ok and to get real with themselves. God Bless and much love!
Thanks so much for your comments, and I’m glad you were encouraged! I pray for wisdom for you as you challenge believers with your new blog.
Amen, brother!
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Reblogged this on Keys to The Kingdom Church and commented:
There is so much joy and peace in meeting God where He is, instead of straddling the fence and wanting to have Jesus and the world, too. What a blessing to see the saints discover another place in God that few truly know about– where He walks with you and talks with you… I am so glad that God never changes because He is perfect just the way He is and He is all that we need. Amen