“Well you walk around those concert grounds and pick out the weirdest fans there – and focus on them. You then decide that you will judge my buddy Mick solely on those kooky fans!
“You say, ‘That’s all I need to know about Mick. He has some weirdo followers!’”...and I don’t have any interest in coming to your house to meet him in person.”
“Now – don’t you think that would be crazy on your part...to judge this historical person of interest by his followers? He may not want anything to do with those fans! But he has no control over who loves him and who doesn’t...and no control over how those followers reflect badly upon him. He likely hates that part of stardom!”
My friend replied, “Well, I guess you’re right there. I probably would want to meet him face-to-face and decide for myself if he was a decent person.”
“Well, Jesus is much bigger than Mick will ever be. And, he loves all his followers, even the ones that are following rather badly – especially those who are reflecting poorly upon Him. There’s nothing anyone can do to make Him love them any less. The saddest part is that what some people do – can effect how others see Him. And this part probably keeps Him up at night.
“Anyway, that is why we call it a ‘personal relationship with Jesus.’ It is about you and Him, one-on-one. All you have to do is pray something like, ‘Jesus, if you’re Real, I want to believe in you. I want you to come into my life and forgive where I’ve gone off-course and messed up. I want to live in a different way now. Will you come into my life, change me, and be my Friend? I am willing for you to show yourself for who you truly are. Amen.’”
And, He always answers a gentle but resounding, “Yes, my loved one! Come and follow me – I will reveal myself to you and I will give you rest.”
Won’t you meet Jesus face-to-face before deciding against him, or judging him by some of his kookiest followers?
Let me pray for you: Lord Jesus, lover of our very souls, be with this one who is struggling to come to you. Shatter anything that is standing in the way of her meeting you face-to-face. Let her feel your mighty love and tender mercy...as she comes to call you Friend and Comforter. Amen.
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