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Am I missing something?

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The morning is going well. I’m standing in the radio broadcast studio. I work overnights. It’s the midpoint of my work-shift. It’s 3:30. I just walked back from the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee. A song is coming to the end… I reach up to the right side monitor and touch the screen for the next event.

A red light flashes signaling an incoming call. “Good Morning this is Lee, what can I do for you?”

“Hear me out.”

“Sure. Your first name is?”

“Do I have to say?”

“Not really, what’s up?”

“OK, listen, I’d like to ask you a question?”

“All right.”

“Are you a Christian?”

“I am. How about you?”

“Yeah, me too. But here’s my question, Is Jesus good for more than just forever?”

The question baffled me. “I’m not sure what you’re asking, could you explain a little more what you mean?” I glanced at the countdown clock on the computer monitor to see how much time was left on the current song airing.

“Well here the deal, I go to church most weeks on Sunday and the minister gives a message and it always seems to be the same thing.”

I’m still in a fog, but I say, “I sort of follow. What’s the theme of the messages?”

“Salvation. Every week the message is about giving my heart, mind, and soul to Jesus.”

“OK, so what’s the problem?”

“Is salvation only good for after I die or is there more to it?”

“Hmm, so you’re wondering if you’re missing something in your Christian life? Is there more than a harp and a cloud in the sweet by and by—at the end of your life?” I pressed a finger to the screen and sent the next song into the airwaves.

“Yes. Again, does following Jesus hold any relevance for right now?”

“Well, there’s obedience… and the great commission… and loving someone else the way Jesus loves you.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“I suppose then I have to ask what is your motivation for obedience? For telling others about Jesus? For loving another person like Jesus has loved you.”

“Well, that’s what you’re supposed to do, right?”

I took a sip of my coffee, it burned the inside of my mouth. I tried not to moan into the phone. “I guess it depends on your motivation, doesn’t it?”

“My motivation?”

“Right. Why are you doing those things?”

“Like I said, because you’re supposed to.”

“Are you telling me your reason for being obedient, talking about the Good News, and loving someone as Jesus does is a religious thing with you?”

“Uh, what do you mean?”

“If you’re doing this because you’re supposed to, is it just religion to you or are you doing this because of your relationship with Jesus?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yes, I’d say so. Are you married?”

“What does that have to do with what we’re talking about?”

“Do you tell or show your spouse some love and affection because you’re supposed to?”

“No, of course not!”

“Why do you show affection?”

“Because I’m in love.”

“Exactly. And is your love reciprocated?”

“Sure.”

“OK, there’s your answer. You don’t love Jesus because you have to, you love Jesus because you want to. It’s a relationship.”

“Oh…”

“It’s included in Salvation…”

“What is?”

I took another swallow of coffee, almost lukewarm. “Letting Jesus love you.”

“What?”

“The practical part of following Christ is letting Jesus love you in all the various aspects and circumstances of your life. Getting ‘saved’ is the starting point of a relationship with Jesus.”

“So there’s more than salvation?”

“No, it’s a part of salvation. Salvation is restoration…”

“Right, I follow that…”

“All of us walked away from God. Jesus provides the way to walk back to God and live an intimate relation with the Lord moment by moment.”

“Really?”

“Really. The piece that many Christians miss is the letting Jesus into every area of their life… letting Jesus love them in every facet, even in the parts they’d prefer to hide.”

There was a pause. Then, “My name is Jim by the way… thanks for taking my call. I’ll have to ponder what you’ve said.”

Following Jesus is a relationship, not religion.

What do you say?

Leave a comment and reach others with your thoughts.

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Audio

(HERE)

It’s an often spoken question, “What earthly good is Jesus?”

It isn’t a question just asked by skeptics or atheists. It’s also a heartfelt question posed by confessing Christians, who don’t understand or comprehend the mind or purposes of God.

Jesus was sent by God the Father into a world voiced into existence by unfathomable power. Through his ministry, death, and resurrection, Jesus undid the old ways and offers a new way. Few search for it, welcome it, or accept it.

Nonetheless, Jesus upended what didn’t work and brought something that works—when we dare ourselves to live a relationship allowing Jesus to love us.

The possibility exists to discover what earthly good Jesus has available.

What do we need to do?

Let Jesus love you. It’s a never ending action.

Thanks for listening to Lee’s Nite Radio.

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Bonus Song:

Tauren Wells – Known

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Books: