Christianity Made Easy
1 John 1:6, "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did."
I've always been the "overly conscientious one." Relate? I mean, I try too hard to "be good" and not disappoint people. Way too hard.
And so I'm not surprised now, looking back many years later, that I also made my Christian life way too complicated. One of my lifetime core values is authenticity. After all, none of us want to be phony. But not long after coming to faith, I became overwhelmed with the impossibility of living the Christ life... "correctly and fruitfully." I came very close to walking away from my faith when a New Testament verse and simple story changed my perspective in a life-giving way.
One evening after church, a wise old man, sensing my anguish, lovingly quoted 1 John 1:6 to me. "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did." Tears quickly sprang to my eyes.
"That's just the problem," I exploded to the old guy. "The world is going to hell apart from Christ and I want to help, but I don't even know where to begin! And I sure don't know how to make my friends and family want to follow Him. I'm pretty much useless."
The old guy pointed to a pew nearby. "Sit here for a minute, Jeanne. I'll make Christianity and evangelism a lot easier for you. Let me tell you an old story."
And so Benjamin began to tell me about a little girl who was very frightened of the dark. Night after night, her patient mom would sit by her bedside until she finally fell asleep. But then one night, the mom became very ill with the flu. She couldn't sit by her little girl's bedside that evening. So lovingly, she explained to her daughter that though she couldn't be there herself, she would leave the nightlight on to calm her fears.
"No, Mommy, please," the little girl begged. "I'll go to sleep really, really fast tonight. Just please don't leave me in my room alone."
The loving Mom paused to give more assurance. "Listen, Sweetie," she said. "I'll be right in the very next room, but most of all, you just need to remember that Jesus is right here with you."
Crying, the little girl said immortal words, "But Momma, right now I need JESUS WITH SKIN ON!"
My wise old story teller, Benjamin, paused to allow time for those words to sink in. "You see, Jeanne," he said gently. "Christianity and evangelism are not nearly as complicated as you're making it. You just try to be Jesus with skin on to the people around you. Sure, you'll have highs and lows, but if this becomes your mantra, you'll make heaven smile with your life."
Old Benjamin was right. 1 John 1:6, coupled with this simple story, have made countless decisions and turning points ever so much easier. Granted, the question, "What would Jesus do?" has become archaic and trite these days. But the essence of those words still echo with profound significance. When I'm promoted to heaven someday, I hope my life will have earned this epitaph:
Here rests Jeanne Mayo... "Jesus with skin on."
1 John 1:6, "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did."
I've always been the "overly conscientious one." Relate? I mean, I try too hard to "be good" and not disappoint people. Way too hard.
And so I'm not surprised now, looking back many years later, that I also made my Christian life way too complicated. One of my lifetime core values is authenticity. After all, none of us want to be phony. But not long after coming to faith, I became overwhelmed with the impossibility of living the Christ life... "correctly and fruitfully." I came very close to walking away from my faith when a New Testament verse and simple story changed my perspective in a life-giving way.
One evening after church, a wise old man, sensing my anguish, lovingly quoted 1 John 1:6 to me. "Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did." Tears quickly sprang to my eyes.
"That's just the problem," I exploded to the old guy. "The world is going to hell apart from Christ and I want to help, but I don't even know where to begin! And I sure don't know how to make my friends and family want to follow Him. I'm pretty much useless."
The old guy pointed to a pew nearby. "Sit here for a minute, Jeanne. I'll make Christianity and evangelism a lot easier for you. Let me tell you an old story."
And so Benjamin began to tell me about a little girl who was very frightened of the dark. Night after night, her patient mom would sit by her bedside until she finally fell asleep. But then one night, the mom became very ill with the flu. She couldn't sit by her little girl's bedside that evening. So lovingly, she explained to her daughter that though she couldn't be there herself, she would leave the nightlight on to calm her fears.
"No, Mommy, please," the little girl begged. "I'll go to sleep really, really fast tonight. Just please don't leave me in my room alone."
The loving Mom paused to give more assurance. "Listen, Sweetie," she said. "I'll be right in the very next room, but most of all, you just need to remember that Jesus is right here with you."
Crying, the little girl said immortal words, "But Momma, right now I need JESUS WITH SKIN ON!"
My wise old story teller, Benjamin, paused to allow time for those words to sink in. "You see, Jeanne," he said gently. "Christianity and evangelism are not nearly as complicated as you're making it. You just try to be Jesus with skin on to the people around you. Sure, you'll have highs and lows, but if this becomes your mantra, you'll make heaven smile with your life."
Old Benjamin was right. 1 John 1:6, coupled with this simple story, have made countless decisions and turning points ever so much easier. Granted, the question, "What would Jesus do?" has become archaic and trite these days. But the essence of those words still echo with profound significance. When I'm promoted to heaven someday, I hope my life will have earned this epitaph:
Here rests Jeanne Mayo... "Jesus with skin on."
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