The Real Jesus and Real Followers

S - ““Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes. … Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. “And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”” Mark 4:24-25, 6:7-11 MSG

O - The Jesus of the accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) is very different from the Jesus of religion … including the religion(s) which claim to be his representatives on earth. In his day and in ours many claim to be his followers. Thankfully he gave clear and concise, easy to understand, validation points which verified his own then and now. As in the sentences above, his followers actually believe him and his instructions about earth, not just about heaven (cf. John 3:11-12).  They live out loud his words. They fulfill the essential qualifier which confirms the status as one of his followers: ““Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”” 

A - The great beauty in the qualifiers Jesus gives which confirm those who are actually following him (i.e. the real Jesus not the religious one) is that those following realize that they are not the judge of another's status. As one attempting to follow I can share the qualifiers with others but not judge their compliance. The only application and validation I can make is about me … am I living them out loud? The religious Jesus inspires the judgment of others. The real Jesus just wants each one to get and keep the beam out of their own eye. I will believe Jesus about all aspects of earth. I will embrace the truth that the most important person for me to reach and influence in this regard is me. I am to judge no one and love unconditionally.

P - Lord of all and Lord of me,

Thank you for calling me to know and follow you; for loving me and letting me love you back; for leading and teaching me about earth and not just about heaven. Today I would like to completely reach me with your words, spirit, presence and love … I would like to be a fountain welling up with your irrepressible life flowing into me and out of me. I admit I cannot discover you, even in the Scriptures … you must be revealed. I admit my need and inability to pull this off on my own. I ask for and accept the help of the Helper.

I want to live and pray in Jesus and in his name,

Steve