Monday, August 15, 2011

Are You a Page Turner, or a Dust Collector?

Many of you have probably heard the quote, "You may be the only Bible some people will ever read." I've been reading a lot of people's responses to that quote. Some say it's a good reminder that we, as Christians, need to live our lives as an example of Jesus Christ. Others say they don't want that burden on their shoulders and ask how we could possibly be an example of Jesus every single day in every single situation. As cliche as the quote may sound, it's the truth. I think we forget sometimes that there are people all around us who have never heard about Jesus. Maybe we forget about them because we are so used to being a Christian, or maybe we are so busy hanging out with other Christians that we can't see past our own little circles of friends. We go to church every Sunday, we listen to Christian music and go to bible studies, we think that the only people who have never heard about Jesus must live in some remote village in a third-world country... Please do not misunderstand me. It is good, and necessary, for Christians to be around other Christians. We need to be a part of a local church. There is much power in the local church. However, WE, as Christians, ARE the church. We are representatives of Jesus Christ inside, and most especially outside, the walls of our church buildings.

I think if we asked around, we would be surprised by how many people in our own neighborhoods have never heard about Jesus. Or, maybe they have heard about him, but just because someone has heard about Jesus doesn't mean that they know who He is. We need to show them who he is, and the best way to do that is with our lives. You don't have to preach at people. That usually doesn't do any good. It's about living a life above the world's standards. It's showing love and exercising self-control when we really want to scream at someone. It's helping the woman in the grocery store line who is juggling four kids and a cart full of groceries. It's taking the time to encourage someone you don't even know who looks like they're having a really hard day. It's leaving your circle of friends to go and talk to the person sitting alone in the corner. Jesus was friends with the people who needed friends. They were the people who were despised by many, rejected, alone. Those were the people who needed him the most. Being a Christian is many things, but the main thing is showing love. It must always be about love.

The dictionary defines a “Christian” as: a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ. If we are going to live as Jesus lived, then we need to know how he lived. The only way we are going to learn about him and know him better is to read His Word and spend time with him every day. It's like an actor who is going to play the part of a character in a true story. The actor spends hours studying the character they are going to be playing. They try to "get in their shoes" and find out about the life they lived. If that person is still alive, they meet with them and spend a lot of time with them. They want to accurately portray the role they are going to be playing. They respect the role, and want to bring honor to that person's life. I would think especially if that person is still living at the time the movie is released. It's the same way with Christians. If we are going to accurately portray Jesus, then we need to spend time getting to know his character. We can't demonstrate what the Bible teaches if we don't know what it says. I think that's the main reason why Christians are given such a bad name sometimes. We are called hypocrites and hear phrases like, "Well, that wasn't a very 'Christian' thing to do." I don't want to be a hypocrite. I also know I will never be perfect. I will never show the love of Jesus as perfectly as Jesus himself. So, where's the balance? How do we live the life of a Christian, but without all the pressure? How do we tell others about Jesus?

Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." If we are living our lives for Jesus, we will shine like lights, showing those around us what Jesus is like. People can tell when you have the joy of the Lord inside of you. When you truly grasp your salvation, you can't hide the joy and peace that will come out of you, and you can't help but to want to tell other people what Jesus has done for you. It's like getting a new car, or finding the best restaurant, or getting really amazing news. You are so excited that you have to tell someone about it. You get on the phone and tell all your friends your news, you drive your new car straight to work to show it off, you invite your friends to your new favorite restaurant and tell them they just have to come because you know they will love it too...That's how it should be when it comes to telling people about Jesus! There's no pressure when you're excited about something. You don't feel like you have to tell people about something when you're excited. You want to tell them.

All we have to do is tell them and leave the rest up to Jesus. You can't save people, only he can. See? No pressure! It's not your job to save them. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you when it comes to talking to people about Jesus. He doesn't want you to blow it any more than you do. He will set up what I like to call "divine appointments" where you will just know in your gut that it's the right time to tell someone about him. Don't let those moments pass you by. Sure, maybe God will use someone else to tell them if you chicken out. But, there's a reason why he wants to use you. Jesus is coming back and nobody knows when. We can't deny the signs that the time of his return is growing ever near. So, what are we going to be doing when he returns? What will be doing in the meantime? As Christians, we have the hope of an eternal life with him after our lives on earth are over. There are so many people who have no hope at all. They think that this is it. How sad! We have the hope that they need! We know what is waiting for them if they choose to accept Jesus. We need to share our hope with a world that has no hope. We need to wake up, be bold, be confident in who we are in Christ and forget about the pangs of rejection we may experience.

1 Peter 4:7-11 says, “7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” Peter goes on to say in verses 14-19, “14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." Peter tells us in these scriptures how to live as a Christian, and to continue to show the love of Christ even if we are made fun of and rejected.

I used to have to make cold calls for a real estate agent I worked for. I hated it. He knew how hard it was for me, so he made up a motto and taped it to my phone. The motto was, "Some will, some won't, so what?" It helped me so much. It helped to take away the fear of rejection. Some people will accept Jesus and some won't. That choice is up to them. I know a lot of people who are sure glad someone gave them that choice. We also have the choice of whether or not we are going to tell them about him. I tell my kids all the time, "Here are your options, now make a good choice." I'm going to take my own advice and make the choice to tell as many people about Jesus as I can. Not in a super-spiritual, hokey, preachy kind of way, but in a way that has them saying, “I want what you have.” I want my light to shine so bright that people see it and want to know what it is and how they can get it. The love of Jesus speaks for itself. So, let's let it speak! Because, as a fellow blogger said, "After all, you may be the only example of Jesus they will ever meet. So what kind of Bible are you going to be? A worn out old page turner or an irrelevant dust collector? The choice is up to you. Don't let them down."

This post was featured in the August issue of Surrender Magazine.  Check it out at http://www.surrendermagazine.com/.