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Jesus - Your Friend and Family

Beyond Sunday 

Many moons ago, I made the radical decision to get in shape and pay for a personal trainer to help get me there. This guy was tough. Three times a week he had me working, all for one reason—getting fit. He would say “jump” and I would jump, “run” and I would run, “push” and I would push…I think you get the picture. I didn’t question him because I knew what he wanted to accomplish in me. But the work I was doing was only while I was at the gym with him. I wouldn’t take the work home, I wouldn’t run the miles on our off days, and I didn’t even keep a healthy diet. All I did, was what he wanted me to do on the days that we met.

I think this is what most of us have faced as part of the church. We get together to get stronger in our faith and let God do His thing so we can get better, but that's the extent of our relationship. We don’t realize that our relationship with God is more than just sessions with a personal trainer, where we do a couple of exercises and call it a day. We often times let our daily lives be completely separate from the one He wants us to live. 

In John 15:1-8, we see that God wants us to remain in Him. That word means to continue to be present, regardless of the location. It’s not an “on-off” switch. It’s an "always on,” hooked-to-the wall plug. While explaining this, Jesus reveals that his goal is for us to take what He has given us (His love) and give the same to others, regardless of whether we consider them worth it or not. The reality is, He met us as sinners, unfit for His love, and He still made us His friends. 

In fact, in John 15:9-17, Jesus gives that relationship a whole new meaning. He gives us the same role He took on earth: to love others and to sacrifice as He sacrificed, not to keep this relationship hidden in the gym, but to exercise it every day. Daily workouts of love are what He has in mind when he calls His disciples to help people find and follow Christ.

Reflection:

When Jesus calls us friends, He meets us on our level. While we were unfit to share with Him, he shared with us. Who have you shared the love of Jesus with?

Do you see yourself daily remaining in Him, or is your relationship tied to a location or a day of the week?

The call to be fishers of men is for all who follow Him to participate in. How can you begin to fish for people?