More ideas emerge every day on how to improve life, be healthy, understand relationships, advance the career, manage money and enjoy recreational life. One can find tidbits and full blown discourses on any variety of improvement methods, programs or products. I search them out sometimes myself. After all, I am not an expert on very many fields. Currently, I am working a new eating and exercise regimen as well as learning more about the world in which I often live and travel- overseas. I could even take the time to recommend some books, websites and experts who have made life a little more manageable for me. I am studied and will continue to study methods, places and how to live better.
But, there is a deeper attraction that lives within me. It is Jesus. You can call Him the Author of Salvation, the First and the Last, The Living One or any number of terms used in the Bible. I know I left out the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, Immanuel and The Way, The Truth and the Life. Yes, I know I now left out the “I Am” and The Branch and even Son of God. But, I need to stop somewhere after giving the idea that Jesus is our All in All.
You can also get cute (and perhaps sacrilegious) and call him The Secret Sauce, the Glue of the World, The Best Big Brother or The Cosmic Culmination or some other ethereal or religiously generic term. Many do. For my purposes, here, I prefer at present to steer away from a specific title that addresses one of His functions or a common term expressing an impact he has upon us. I want to write about the person Jesus.
He is my deep attraction. From Him I find help. He is my Mediator, Deliverer and most Trustworthy friend. Oops! Back to titles again. I guess the titles are expressions of the person. He is my focus and always the most needed one to right the ship. I am taking a hiatus from good ideas and helpful life improvement fascinations and increasing my information base on special interests. I am back to Jesus, full force. I have preached about too many things- most of which I would like to think has offered some comfort, needed information or challenging thought. But, I am tired of giving good ideas. I want to give what gives me the most joy and purpose- Jesus himself.
When I pause to think about Jesus, I am drawn to pray. When I remember his words, I am helped. I find it fascinating that the apostles, who were instrumental in changing the world, were drawn to Him rather than instruction on improvement of life skills. His person, teaching, death and resurrection changed their lives. From that, they taught good things on living life, many of which Jesus left unattended or giving little or no detail- how masters should treat slaves (or employers treat employees), how husbands should treat wives, how to organize a church, how to disciple (he told us clearly to do it and modeled it, but did not give detailed directions for how to do it), how to spend discretionary time, how to organize your finances (though he said much about money and its use and attachment), how widows should behave, or how younger people can benefit from the wisdom of older people. For the most part, the apostles provided us the information we most often use in those areas.
Jesus gave us life and gave it abundantly. The apostles experienced the life that Jesus provided and from that life were able to formulate systems and forge behaviors that made perfect sense for those living a Spirit-filled life. But, for them, it was all discovered- principles and practice- by following Jesus. So, we are back to Jesus.
Don’t become like a child with the Christmas gift that ends up playing with the box. Resist the temptation to focus on the results of being with Jesus. Focus on Jesus. Enjoy the results and the process as an outcome of following the Master.