“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
I decided to start attending the church I attend these days after just one meeting. It wasn’t because of the sermon. No sermon was given at that meeting. It wasn’t the worship. No worship took place. It was a youth talent show. What attracted me was the love of Jesus that was present. It was more than just a friendly place to be. I saw the kind of agape love that can only exist in the presence of Jesus. Jesus told us this is the way folks would identify us as His.
We need to remember that we really have only one product, Just Jesus. The way we touch a diverse congregation on Sunday is to give them Jesus. I was a Pastor for a few years. I didn’t seek the position and had no training for it. I was intimidated and made many mistakes. One thing I did right was to buy a podium and the wooden letters “J E S U S.” I fastened the letters to the front of the podium. It was my thought that no matter how badly I handled the service, the people would see “Jesus” every Sunday. That podium now sits in front of the church I attend.
For the lost who come to a service, they need to hear, “You have a problem, sin, Jesus is the answer.” For those who seek to grow after coming to Christ, they need to be pointed to Jesus and told, “Follow Him.” For those who come tired, He gives rest. For those who come confused, He is the way. For those who have been lied to, He is the truth. For those the world has damaged, He is the Life.
How do we present Jesus? We have our experience of Him. We have his word which is the story of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. We can be honest and vulnerable and admit how we struggle and how He responds. We can give up thinking we have the answers or that we have it all together and turn with the people we love to Him, not once but continuously.
Go to church today. If you want to make sure Jesus is there, bring Him with you. Don’t be so focused on your needs but be Jesus for someone else and in that pouring out of yourself, you will find answers and solutions for what the world throws at you.
Just Jesus is simple, but it’s not simplistic and it’s not easy. Satan’s game is to turn us to anything but Jesus. He drags us to distractions, to programs, to slogans, to fancy words and catchy songs. Put that podium in the front of you and the word on its face clearly in your mind; J E S U S.
Be blessed.
Nick
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