“If you stopped learning today you wouldn’t live long enough to put into practice all that you already know.” – Fenelon, 15th century Bishop. [Paraphrased from the book, “Let Go”]
This quote has stuck with me for a long time now. I believe it’s true. For most of us, the time for learning new information about Jesus is long over. It’s way past the time for putting into practice what we already know that Jesus commanded us to do.
Sadly, most of us would rather continue to read and learn and study, and then re-learn and re-study, and taking lots of notes until Jesus comes back.
But Jesus isn’t coming back for people who know stuff about Him. It’s why He said: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I command?” (Luke 6:46)
We typically think that when we know something we are blessed. As if having the right information is all that is required of us. But that’s not the case at all. Jesus stresses that we are blessed, not when we know what he says, but when we do what He says:
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17)
Because Jesus knows that having the right information about the Gospel is worthless if you do not obey the Gospel.
In other words, it’s not how much information about Jesus we have. It’s what we do with that information once we have it.
The great Christian philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard put it this way:
“The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”
What Jesus wants us to do is to stop trying to live for Him and start allowing Him to live in us.
Until Jesus is alive in you – living and breathing within – you are not really alive anyway. Remember, Jesus told us: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
And we are told that “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God, does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)
So, let’s not ask ourselves “What can I do for God?” but let’s ask, “What could God through me if I was totally and completely surrendered to Him?”
That’s the Gospel of the Kingdom: One life totally surrendered to His rule and reign.
Can we take that step? Can we begin, right now, to let Jesus have His way with us? Can we lay down our lives and let Him live in us by His Spirit?
Honestly, that’s what Jesus came and died for – all of you! Not just a little piece of you, but every single part; even (and especially) that part of yourself that you are most afraid of surrendering to Him. (You know what I’m talking about).
The Good New is: He is trustworthy. He won’t mess up your life. Instead, He will give you real, abundant life, starting the moment you let go of this one, which in reality is no real “life” at all, and take hold of His Life which is more astounding than you can possibly imagine.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:25-26)
Jesus doesn’t want you to ask Him into your life. He wants to invite you into His life.
Please RSVP today.
-kg
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Keith Giles is the author of several books, including the Amazon best-seller “Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb.” He is also the co-founder of Pacifist Fight Club and co-host of the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast. He lives in Orange, CA with his wife and 2 sons. They are part of a house church which gives away 100% of the offering to help the poor in their community.
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