“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that. all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
This quote captures what I think the focus of Jesus’s followers ought to be.
If we are not seeking to be like Jesus in the world, then we are not following Jesus.
If we are not helping others find the Jesus way, we are not developing followers of Jesus.
It is one thing to say this, it is a lot harder to do this.
How do we know if we are succeeding in this mission?
I guess the evidence is whether people experience Jesus-like love when they are with us.
Jesus drew people in, he blessed them with a gracious welcome.
He spoke with humility and grace, even when he was challenging them.
The Jesus Way is the way of humility and grace… and so it must be our way too.
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” (Romans 15:7)
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
“In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5)
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)
I cannot force others to choose the Jesus way, I need to show them how it works.
I need to model it, and this is where I discover how hard it is.
Before I can help others follow his way, I need to do it myself.
Not only the church and he whole universe, but I exist for nothing else than to draw people into Christ.
My top priority and prater needs to be:
“Let there be humility and grace on earth, and let it begin in me!”
What do you think?
Jesus is the main focus – totally totally on board with that. Even in other religions Jesus has an important place: a holy prophet in Islam, a Jewish Rabbi, even as on of the gods in Buddhism and also acknowledged in Hinduism. The focus is on Jesus: what are you as a person going to do with Jesus’s claims – that he is the way – that he is one with the Father. Accepting Jesus is what the convict on the cross beside Jesus did – maybe he knew about the Torah and the teachings of the prophets – he obviously didn’t follow the 10 commandments – but he appealed to Jesus to remember him. Seeing how in the Bible that God is at work at restoring our relationship with him – and finally ripping the curtain of separation through the mission of Jesus – tells us what is important: Jesus!