https://youtube.com/watch?v=8M4_IlbaZHA_US
A few years ago, I decided to accept as my own the invitation that Jesus made to Matthew. And since it was so simple, I just decided to follow him. I did not complicate myself with religions, rituals, theories or hermeneutics, since I had tried everything before and had not achieved a relationship. In a determined but uncompromising way, I decided to follow him.
As Andy Stanley anticipated in his SIMPLE video talk series, over time I have come to believe, and therefore, obedience has been a fruit and not an imposition. Amidst a sea of doubts and many behaviors to correct, or at least attend to, the process has moved me from a life in bondage to one in freedom, from one on wrong axes to one in the center of the message Christ brought to earth. Or at least close.
I am no spiritualist and I don’t get within a thousand miles of levitation, I close my eyes and in prayer I achieve a peace that I reach by no other means, and I have found no anxiolytic more effective than a direct connection with Him in search of protection, love and forgiveness. However, the road that has been long for me today has shown me an avenue focused on relationship and not religion, on my body as a temple and not a building, on my intimacy with God as a response and not on a liturgy or a tradition.
I believe that Jesus was who He said He was, although doubts and my limitation complicate me, although I enjoy a life commitment that allows me to tell you, in all sincerity, that even if you have a growing faith or a thousand doubts, your life can be much better if you only decide to follow Jesus Christ. And what do I mean by this? To know his words, to discover his life, to reflect on his legacy and decide to follow his guidance and direction. You might have doubts about whether he raised Lazarus or walked on water, but your life will be better. (And then you might discover that it was true!). You might have doubts about his virgin birth or his ascension to heaven, but I can assure you that you will have an immediate reward as you move from following to believing and therefore obeying.
Today I felt the enormous desire to tell you about it just like that, because it is not a matter of religion but of relationship. After all, is there any commandment more relational than that of Jesus himself? Love one another does not refer to a feeling, but to an action, and therefore, it is a matter of making love a verb, and if you want to be great, serve others.
Always easy to say, but always difficult to do, until you discover legitimate and authentic freedom in your intimacy with God. Simple.
