Running toward Jesus

One of the books I’m reading is Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  I am currently in a chapter called, “Your Best Life… Later”.  I’ve typed a bit of this chapter out for you… here, have a read:

“What does running toward Christ and pursuing Love look like in daily life?

The best place I know to look is in Scripture; here we gather wisdom and study the examples of those who followed God wholeheartedly.  The best passage is probably Hebrews 11, a chapter often called the “hall of faith.”  It is tempting to assume that the people listed there were super human, or supersaints, and that you and I could never do the kinds of things they did.  …

But did you know that Abraham was afraid for his safety, so he lied about his wife, Sarah, and said that she was his sister… twice?  Consider Jacob, who stole his brother Esau’s birthright, tricked his father into blessing him, and then fled in fear fom Esau.

Or did you know that Moses was a murderer and so scared of speaking up that God had to send his brother, Aaron, to be Moses’ mouthpiece?  Also in Hebrews 11 we see Rahab, who was a Gentile and a woman (in that time, a serious disadvantage), not to mention a prostitute!  Then there’s Samson, who had so many issues I don’t even know where to begin.  And of course, David, a “man after God’s own heart” who was an adulterer and a murderer, whose children were evil and out of control. 

These people were far from perfect, yet they had faith in a God who was able to come through in seemingly dire situations.  For example, Noah, who ‘by faith… when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).  Noah spent 120 years building an ark and warning others of the impending judgment.  Suppose the flood had never come– Noah would have been the biggest laughingstock on earth.  Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy.  Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.”

I read this last night, right before falling asleep.  I closed the book, in awe of God once again.  You know, ever since I was first introduced to the Bible, I’ve not really liked that “hall of faith” chapter.  WHAT?  I’m honest!!  Hahaha!  God knows my heart!  🙂  This chapter seemed to point out my flaws, highlight them, increase the font by 10,000% and paste them on the billboard of my mind.  Seriously.  How was I supposed to ever be good enough to make it into anything even remotely similiar to the “hall of faith”?  And then there was the whisper, from the way-back part of my mind that shouted the question, “Will God love me if I can’t?”

I knew about Moses’ life.  I knew about David’s.  Yep, Samson’s too.  All of them and all of their problems.  But I didn’t see it that way.  Don’t ask why.  I have no idea.  I mean, it’s MOSES!!  KING DAVID!!  I’m just… me.  I know my faults.  I know my … yuk… my laziness, my fear, my messes.  But seeing it that way is WRONG!

We have a Savior in Jesus that GETS US!  He knows us… you know, the whole, “O Lord you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways…” from Psalm 139.  I’m not saying we should go about “messing up” or being lax-i-dasical (is that a word?) with our life and especially our dedication to Jesus.  But what I AM saying, and what I am learning for myself, is that He gets me!  It’s this crazy love thing.  I mean seriously, who dies on a cross so I don’t have to live a horrible life here on earth?  Who sacrifices himself just so I can spend eternity with Him in Heaven?  Who DOES that??

Jesus is amazing, y’all!!  😉  I can’t say it enough.  MAKE time to celebrate the One who has CRAZY LOVE for you!!