What does Jesus mean? This is one of the questions that was asked yesterday in my interview before the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church. My buddy Chris and I drove over to Knoxville yesterday bright and early and had a great day.
I have to admit that I was a little nervous. This is the day I have anticipated for several years since starting the Candidacy Process to become an Ordained Minister in The United Methodist Church. It is a day that many people dread and I can honestly say that I never dreaded it but I looked forward to it. It was an awesome experience and I have gained knowledge and lots of friends through this process. There were approximately 20 Candidates there yesterday and we will hear officially later this week if we are going to be accepted into the two year Provisional Process, Deferred or that we have to do re-writes on the theological, doctrinal and personal information that we turned in. I believe that my work was 62 pages in length.
On to the question: I was asked the question “What is Jesus”? I have to admit that it took me back for a second, I said “Jesus is my Lord and Savior”. Then I asked for clarification, do you mean what is the definition of Jesus? Are you looking for who Jesus is? It is really beyond definition.
So I ask you what is Jesus?
Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Jesus is everything to me. I have turned my life over to Jesus The Christ to be used by and through Him to impact the World.
What does this really mean?
In the past 10 years I have taken salary cuts of half in order to go and serve where I believe Jesus wants me to serve. It didn’t make any sense to the World why I would do this and at times it didn’t make sense to me either. In the past 25 years I have read more books about Jesus and Christianity. I have read the Bible through from start to finish several times, all because I want to follow, serve and fellowship with Jesus more than anything in the world. I have spent more money on books, Cd’s, trips and seminars and conventions to learn about Jesus than anything else in the world. I have spent more time listening to preaching in church, revivals, on tape and cd than anywhere else in the world. I have given my life to discover who Jesus is and I plan to spend the rest of my life continuing that process of discovery and then helping others to see and find and fellowship with the love of my life, Jesus Christ.
I will warn you that it will cost you everything that you have and if you are unwilling to give it up then you will never find that sweetness, that closeness, that awesome communion with Jesus Christ that is longed for by every human being. So many people walk around with a God sized hole in their heart because they want to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the Life of Christ. It won’t work.
Jesus said Follow Me!
Ronnie