Who Is Jesus? Part 2Sample

Made for This In showing us what it really means to be human, Jesus offers this invitation to partner with Him in restoring creation. And here, He spells out the invitation to His disciples, commissioning them to continue the work He started. Here are the instructions: > “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8 NIV As followers of Jesus, we are created and called by God to reflect His goodness to all the earth; to live our lives in such a way that the people around us and the environments we are in get better because of our presence in them. Imagine that kind of life. What if, in all your relationships, the way you treated people elevated them so much so that even if the relationship ended, you’d both walk away seeing God more clearly than when you first met? What if you recognized that you carry freedom, hope, and life-changing power with you wherever you go? You do! This life is not only possible, it’s the one Jesus has invited you into. But it’s not easy. People are often really resistant to change. And Jesus isn’t trying to hide the difficulties from us. > “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard …” Matthew 10:16-17 NIV Walking out this invitation, partnering with Jesus, requires wisdom and the appropriate internal motivation. Basically, we’ve got to have our hearts and our heads right. And I love that because we are called to love God with all that we are. It’s not just an emotional thing. It’s an intellectual thing too. Does that mean we have to know all the answers in order to accept the invitation? No, but it does mean that we are dedicating our thoughts to what is good, allowing God to train us in renewing our minds, and seeking His wisdom. Jesus isn’t just our Savior; He’s also our teacher. We get to learn from Him. This invitation to partner with Him in restoring creation comes with the expectation that we are going to actually follow in His footsteps and do the work that He was doing. > Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:38-39 NIV That authentic, meaningful life we all desire doesn’t come from “finding ourselves.” It comes from denying ourselves and choosing to respond to Jesus’ invitation to partner with Him in restoring creation. You were made for this. This is where life is: in denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus.