Guilty!

I have asked this question plenty of times, but here I go again…lf you were put on trial for being a follower or Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you? And who do you hope would be on the jury?

How about your co-workers? Do they see that you actually KNOW the One you claim to serve? Would they be surprised to hear that you profess to be a follower of Jesus? Do you words and actions prove to your clients or customers or co-workers that God is guiding you daily? Do they see an integrity and value system that would pronounce you guilty or not guilty of being a God follower?

What about that person in other car experiencing your road rage? What if they were on the jury? Would they automatically claim the verdict of not guilty because if you were following God in that moment, you would certainly not have reacted as you did.

Would your parents and siblings do better as your defense attorney or the prosecutor?  They need your love and acceptance, but often get your brutal honesty, judgment or cold shoulder as you avoid them because they are so difficult and annoying. Do they see and feel loved by you as if the love of Jesus was flowing through you to them?

Do your children know that you are growing closer to God every single day? Do they see you in the Word, hear you speak to Him? Watch you meditated in silence listening for His guidance? Do the kids know that your values spring from your relationship with Jesus? Do you talk about Him at home and teach them about His love and the abundant life He has to offer? If they sat on the jury, would they determine that you are guilty of following Jesus or not guilty?

Here is a really tough one… Your husband. What does he see every single day? Does he hear you praising and thanking God for guiding and protecting you, or does he witness worry and fretfulness? Do your attitudes and words and moods reflect a connection with the One who promised to never leave you or forsake you? Does your language ooze love? Are you carrying blessings into your home with words of endearment and encouragement? Can he tell by the honor you show him that you are yoked with and learning from God daily?

And gentlemen… would your wife submit a guilty verdict… knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ by the way you love and honor her above yourself? Would she say that the way you make Jesus the priority in your life and in your leadership at home makes it apparent that Jesus is LORD of your life?

You and I and everyone I have ever known are broken. We are human and tend to be selfish and arrogant enough to believe that we can do this life pretty well, follow the rules, be better than most other people and come out pretty close to what pleases God and then someday find ourselves in heaven. But that is NOT what Jesus taught. It is not taught by any of the New Testament writers. Jesus taught that we can be convicted of being His follower by the LOVE we demonstrate to Him and others (Matthew 22:37-39). Everything is hinged on our ability to love and, frankly, we don’t do that well on our own. It’s just a human problem. Plain and simple. That’s why we have to take His yoke every single day and learn from Him. Connect with Him. Walk with Him. Listen to Him.

Letting go of our will and drive to be the best by our own definition and emptying our minds of the lies we believe about earning our way to heaven, and replacing what is false with the wholeness and purity of His love, is transformational. His love in us, overflowing to others will get us convicted of being a follower of Christ better than the best sounding prayer or the most scripture memorized or the most incredible adherence to a code of ethics.

Court is now in session. All rise! And may the JUDGE and the jury find us all guilty of following Jesus by His lavish love overflowing to our spouse, our kids, our neighbors, our community, our co-workers and even to perfect strangers who cross our path.