Taking Jesus Just As He Is
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Mark 4:36 NIV
Well at least the disciples went, that’s better than I have done at times. If you are following this series then you know that there have been times in my life where I followed Jesus closely and other times where I did not and, therefore, missed out on what God was trying to do in my life. I am trying hard today to always follow as He leads.
I love the phrase in this verse, however, that says they took Jesus “just as he was”. While I am certain some theologian can impart wisdom to me about exactly what this means, it speaks volumes to me with what I do know of Scripture and my life experience.
Too many times we try to take Jesus, as we want Jesus to be, not as He intends for us to be. We like Jesus to do things on our terms, not His terms. We try to put our stamp on Jesus rather than allow His stamp on us. We try to fit Jesus in our box rather than conform our lives to Christ.
It does not take a very bright person to figure out they would be better off with Jesus’ way than their own. I have often said that if you get better at something than Jesus is I’ll follow you. Even an unbeliever should know that Jesus’ way is best.
That leads me to ask an important question: Are you following your way or Christ’s way? If God should choose to alter your life agenda would that meet your approval? Can you emphatically say yes to those questions in every area of your life? (I must confess I am not completely there yet….but I am a work in progress.)
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