Are You For REAL?

I have been blogging now going on 3 years. I recently told the story to a few friends of how I started my blog, and it has stuck in my brain ever since I had that conversation.... kind of like an echo of an old friend talking to me, reminding me of what God placed in my heart then. 


My mission when I started this blog was to tell others about Christ. I didn't know who the "others" consisted of, but God told me to start in my own backyard. I began to share the sermons that I heard at church to a small group of friends that believed in God, but did not go to church or attend a church regularly. Most of them had experienced the "legalistic" side of church, and it was not "kind" to them. Understandably so, they made no plans to darken the doors where they did not feel welcomed. I felt it important that the Word of God cover my blog from corner to corner, praying to pierce the hearts of those who would read it. If my friends would not come to church to hear the Word of God, I would bring His light to them. And if only ONE who by reading it made a difference in their life, I knew it was all worth it. Jesus left the flock of 99 sheep to go and find the lost ONE. 


So many things that Jesus said in the scriptures to do were very much against the grain in His day and ours. They actually sound quite ridiculous.

"Love your enemies" 
"Pray for those who persecute you" 
"If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also" 
"If someone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well" 


All of these actions that Jesus speaks of here go against the selfish nature that we were born into which is sin. Selfishness begins in infancy, but self-LESS-ness begins in Christ. 


"He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30 NIV)


How many people do you know that will do missionary work and give up the comforts and freedom that you live in right now? Those that will live out their lives helping and caring for others because no one else will.
OK... so God does not call everyone to overseas missions, or experience life-threatening conditions to help others.... 


....but if Jesus IS REAL, what are we doing with Him? 


We say that we have Him in our heart.... we sing that He is our "King of Kings that reigns forever and ever"....


... but if Jesus is REAL, and we say that He is IN us, then-WE-must-be-REAL!


"By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, IF you love one another." (John 13:35 NIV) Loving the way Jesus loved/loves is "the" hardest thing anyone will ever do. It is totally putting yourself out there- sometimes in the most vulnerable state you could ever be in... but He commands us to do so. It isn't about US!! Once we give our lives over to Him- it's about "others". I heard Joyce Meyer say once that if God just wanted US to be happy, He would have beamed us up right after we were saved! But He left us here on earth so that OTHERS could hear "the good news" and come to know Him.


Are you for REAL? Or do you need REAL in your life?
REAL love, REAL kindness, REAL forgiveness, REAL gentleness, REAL peace.


Jesus is REAL. He is the most REAL you will ever know.


I pray that this blog will continue to minister to the hearts that are in need of REAL. I never want to lose sight of my initial mission to bring "good news" to those who want and need to hear. God has given me so much that on days like today when it feels like the bottom is falling out of my little world, He reaches for me, pours out His unconditional love and grace until I see that my problems are ever so small compared to so many others. 


You can't live in a bubble or in isolation with your faith: Love is a verb! Be REAL. You may be the only Jesus some people will ever see.....