Many people think that being a follower of Jesus is all about how shiny you can polish your life to be. Have I gotten rid of this sin, and that sin? Have I mastered a spiritual things like prayer or reading my bible? Do I only hang out with people who agree with me about God and Church? We get so focused on polishing our lives that we become arrogant toward people who aren't working as hard as we are and we judge people whose lives are “messy.” Additionally, we have little love for the hurting, the broken and the outcast.
But when Jesus walked this earth he roamed the streets and invited people to “follow me.” He didn’t have a list of prerequisites that you had to meet first. He didn’t look for people who had it all together. He didn’t make them promise to never swear again, to quit smoking, to tuck in their shirt and to never watch football on Sunday again. He simply said, “Follow Me.” Being a follower of Jesus is not about figuring out where you land on the “morality-achievement scale.” Its about a consistent focus on Jesus.
Some of us grew up in homes where Jesus was prayed to, talked about and the bible was read regularly. Others grew up in homes where Jesus was rejected and not welcome. While others come from lives of broken families, violence, abuse, and a thousand other hardships. Some of us have made terrible decisions and now are reaping the consequences. Still others have received wisdom from parents and teachers and they are enjoying full life.
Everyone’s starting point is different but if we have a consistent focus on Jesus we are all heading in the same direction. So what matters for each of us is - Are you learning what it means to walk with Jesus today? He says to you, “Follow Me.”
