I used to treat Jesus like garlic powder. Something to flavor my life and make me feel good that it was included. I still wanted my life the way I wanted it, but with just a dash of Jesus here and there to make it more flavorful. But not too much or else it overtakes the food and would be the only thing you could taste.
I wanted the blessings that Jesus promised like eternal life, hope, faith and love. I wanted to receive grace and be the recipient of love, peace and His financial blessings. But I never wanted too much Jesus – I didn't want Him to overpower my life or for me to be the dispenser of love, grace and patience. I just wanted a dash of Jesus.
I didn't want to have to give anything up for Jesus – to suffer for Him – to live in total surrender for Him and complete abandonment of my dreams and comforts. I wanted the good He had to offer and assumed that being a Christian was all about me living the American dream while simply praying for those less fortunate. I wanted comfort with a nice house, new car, good job and all of my dreams coming true and in return I would attend church, read my bible and be a good person while being casual acquaintances with Jesus.
Then something happened. One day I discovered the real raw Jesus, similar to raw garlic – the source of the man made diluted garlic powder – and it was a powerful encounter. At first it burned and was overpowering and overwhelming. It was radically different than anything I'd ever experienced. But then I discovered the powerfulness of this raw Jesus – His Relentless Love, His Beauty, His Sovereignty – and suddenly the desire for anything else began to fade away. After experiencing the real raw Jesus nothing else would satisfy.
I rush to tell others about this raw Jesus, but without even a word spoken the undeniable sweet stench of Jesus is on my breath and seeping out of my pores like garlic. To me it is the sweetest smell in the world, but to most people, real raw Jesus is offensive. Sadly many are not attracted to this raw Jesus, but instead are repelled by Him. For He calls them to deny themselves and lay down their dreams and pick up their cross and follow Him. Alas, they are simply content with a dash of Jesus to flavor their lives.
Praise God I have tasted the real raw Jesus and now nothing else can satisfy! I have experienced this real raw Jesus and the source of real raw love, community, grace, forgiveness, unity, power, truth, life, abundance, peace, joy, hope, contentment and richness in all things!
So dive in! Take a bite and never look back!
Even in total abandonment, I have so much more than I've ever had before! If you've never tasted the real raw Jesus, you literally have no idea what you are missing!
Psalms 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
2 Corinthians 6:10
We own nothing and yet we have everything.
In less than 6 hours I'll be getting on a plane for the nations, and it will be 11 months before I step foot on American soil again. But with the sweet stench of Jesus on my breath, I will breathe life into all those I encounter. Jesus is my beloved, and I am His. I am blessed beyond words to have Him as my savior, the love of my life, and to have the opportunity to tell the whole world about His Love! Thank you all for your prayers and support, you have made this day happen! May God bless you beyond anything you could think or imagine!
