What if Jesus’ plans conflict with my plans?

Here’s the rub. God is God, and we can’t thwart His will. And because He’s God, He’s invited us into something bigger than us. We can do what we want and think it’s right, like Judas did, and rue the day. Or we can decide, as Jesus followers, to trust God knows what He’s doing. It’s all about whose will wins out in the battle for our hearts.

Is there a price to pay for following Jesus?

Jesus eventually lays out the fine print for following him, and it’s to be willing to deny yourself and take up a cross. That means simply saying, “No” to me. We’re not unfamiliar with this—we all turn down dessert at restaurants from time to time, right? But Jesus telling us we are to say “No” to us scares us to death. But maybe it shouldn’t. You save your life by losing it to Christ and the gospel. Truth is, you’re going to lose your life anyway, at the end, right? Will you be willing to say “Yes” to Jesus and “No” to you in those defining moments in life? Everything hangs in the balance.

What should followers of Jesus wear?

People tell us what they follow by what they wear: Cheeseheads at Packer games; green and yellow faces at Brazil soccer games; women in birkas; Buddhist monks. What we should be known for as Jesus followers is loving people like Jesus loved people—people that don’t deserve it. Paul describes loving like Jesus loved us as as clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, putting up with, and forgiving. Yeah, it’s supernatural stuff.

What is the endgame, the ultimate reward, for following Jesus?

It’s not just to be a better person, although we will be better people. It’s not just going to heaven, although we will. It’s not to be pain or problem free. It’s “fear not.” The endgame is to make us fearless. The lack of fear results from our utter confidence that God is always with us regardless of the circumstances, even painful ones.

If I were to follow Jesus, would I be expected to just drop everything in my life?

Following Jesus begins with listening and asking questions, not leaving your world, your family, and your job. Jesus teaches truth, we listen, ask questions, and learn. It’s not blind faith. It’s based on information Jesus imparts. But don’t be surprised Jesus might lead you to do something that makes no sense, maybe doing something you’ve done 1,000 times but in a different way. In other words, he asks you to take a step of faith. And if you follow Him in that step, it’s because you’ve grown to respect and admire Him. And the outcome f that step will probably may startle you and proves to you that Jesus is worth following some more. So, when you become aware of the next step in following Jesus, take it.

If I were interested in a job following Jesus, what would my resume have to look like?

Jesus invites people who are a mess into a relationship, and you don’t even have to believe anything or do anything. There’s no admission fee. He picked people others thought should not have been allowed into the club. Change happens through the “following” Jesus.

Are there truths of the Christian faith worth dying on the hill for?

Well, truth is truth, and all truth is God’s truth. That said, not all truth is of equal importance. “A prophet is without honor in his hometown” is true, but it may not be as important as “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” What are the truths worth dividing over and what are the ones not worth such division?

Surprise!! It’s about the resurrection.

As a Christian, can you tell me why you do what you do?

God has saved us, but left us here on earth. Seems logical to think there must be a reason He hasn’t just taken us home. In fact, what’s delaying God from just ending this mess down here and getting the fun stuff of eternity with Him started? Don’t we know it’s because there are yet people to be saved? Shouldn’t that be about what we’re about, individually, and as a church? Isn’t that why we should be doing what we do?

How do we distinguish issues that are not worth disagreeing over from those that are?

Yes, we don’t just “get along” to “get along” on every issue. Some are matters of opinion where we have the freedom to do what God tells us individually, but some are more indisputable issues, where God has clearly spoken. On the latter, we need to take a stand. Even on those, there’s a right, loving way to begin to deal with the other person—personally and privately.