As Jesus began His ministry, He challenged people with a simple, yet life-changing instruction: “Follow me.” This was long before the days of social media so following Him meant a lifestyle change. Jesus didn’t offer three or four options. He called people to follow. That was the only choice people had.
Following Jesus changes everything. That explains why so many people today fall into a third category that Jesus never identified. This third category is made up of people who know all about following Jesus but aren’t ready to commit. They have a great relationship with an organization (the church) but no relationship with Jesus. They attend regularly, give occasionally, serve when pressured to do so, and enjoy having their kids cared for. They are great church people.
Yet, this same group struggles to connect their religion to their lives. Their church affiliation doesn’t seem to affect their personal lives. This isn’t a new phenomenon; it’s been happening since Jesus’ day. Many people came to Him and wanted to have a relationship with Him on their terms. Jesus’ response was consistent. He told them they needed to reorder their priorities. When He was at the top of the list, they would be ready to follow.
Many churches today are catering to this third group of people. The churches are attracting (and counting) large crowds but are reluctant to challenge them to become authentic followers of Jesus. They know that many people today will respond the same way they did in Jesus’ day… they will walk away. It’s one thing to attract a crowd; it’s another thing to have a strategy for helping them become authentic Christ-followers.
Your why is best discovered when you pursue an authentic relationship with God through faith in His Son, Jesus. Your spiritual development is foundational to your becoming the person God intended. His design for you is the best plan. Any other plan will leave you wanting more out of life. Think about it.
How does your relationship with God affect the pursuit of your why?
