Dc Talk - Jesus Freak 25Sample

Jesus Freak

Few aspects of following Jesus can ignite our faith, joy, and sense of adventure more than evangelism. When we sense God is reaching for the heart of someone near us and take action to bring His love, truth, and power to that person, we come alive in ways that private spirituality alone can never produce.

We are hardwired to co-mission with God. Our deep longing for purpose and passion is by design. We have been handcrafted to partner with God in His great rescue plan for humanity. Jesus is on the move: He is calling hearts to repent and believe the gospel and He has invited us to join Him in this work. Doing this work, yoked with Jesus, is actually a secret of true purpose, joy, and peace.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29-30, ESV)

Can you think of the last time you felt the Holy Spirit’s invitation to share Jesus’ love, truth, and power? 

Sadly, too often we decline the Spirit’s invitations. We resist the yoke of Jesus and instead welcome the yoke of fear, unbelief, or timidity. We fear rejection and can’t imagine that God would be inclined to use us to do the impossible. We present our list of reasons which convince us that we are not the right people for the job!

The truth is, when we repeatedly decline the Spirit’s invitations to carry His yoke and to work with Him, the diminishment of our joy and compassion soon follows. After a while, spiritual boredom sets in and, left unchecked, can lead to complacency and even sinful compromise. 

Have you ever found yourself settled into diminished joy, spiritual boredom, or complacency? Often this is the result of living outside of our unique design as co-laborers with God. 

The good news is that God never cancels the invitations He sends us. He never removes our identity as His ambassadors. Instead, He patiently waits and persistently calls us to repentance. He is full of grace and hope that we might cast off what hinders us and embrace the joy of walking and working with Him. 

Can you feel Him calling? Can you sense His invitation today? This is the perfect time to say “yes!” 

Who in your life do you sense Jesus’ love highlighting? What is keeping them from experiencing Jesus? How can you play a part in bringing Jesus’ love, truth, and power to them?  

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess my longing to take on the yoke of Christ. I repent of fear, unbelief, and internal excuses that have kept me from walking and working with You. I receive Your forgiveness and cleansing today. Ignite in me a fiery passion for the gospel and for the world to know You. In Jesus’ name, amen.