What is the way? Jesus said that he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one comes to the Father but through Him. Nowadays though, it doesn't seem that the way of Jesus, a lifestyle looking a lot like Jesus, is the focus of my life all the time. If the early Jesus-followers were indeed following a Way, and that Way of life could only be attributed to people looking and living a lot like Jesus the Christ, then is that Way our focus today as believers? Now, for some of you reading this you're there already, you look at your life and it looks a lot like Jesus so this might be a bit boring for you to read. You can tune out I guess, this is more for the broken folks like me who are struggling in their following-Jesus journey.
If you are like me though you look at your life and wonder if your enemies would look at you and call you a 'little Christ' because even though they may despise you, you definitely remind them of the Jesus of Scripture. This is a convicting question to ponder indeed; at least it is for me. Am I a person following the Way of Jesus, the way of the kingdom if you will? Am I a man that looks in the mirror first before I point the finger of judgment at those around me? Do I show mercy first as I know that it's in showing mercy instead of judgement that I see the blessing of Jesus in my life?
Are loving God and loving my neighbor the top two priorities of my day as Jesus said they should be? Or do I get caught up with a lot of other things not-so-much important according to Jesus? Do I worry about finances more than I focus on the kingdom breaking into my reality on a daily basis? Do I spend more energy trying to play the 'good Christian' card or do I spend my energy following Jesus and living in obedience to Him?
Good questions I'm assuming. At some point 'Christian' became an adjective; that's a Christian band, that's a Christian t-shirt, etc. But when did the shift happen? If that word is an adjective then I'm pretty sure it's a bad situation from the beginning. People aren't perfect, I'm for sure not! So, if I start a band, and we're a Christian band, and we make a mistake that's not a very Jesus-like thing to do, have we just brought to surface the error in 'Christian' being an adjective? I'm thinking that would be the case.
I'd love people to look at me, and even if they want nothing to do with Jesus or His Church, they would have to call me a 'little Christ' for lack of another term that fits any better. Is that the case as of today? Definitely not I'm afraid to say. But a guy can dream right? Am I committed to a way of life, the Jesus-way, or am I content going to church on Sunday and living the life of a spectator? Good questions to ponder.
