I'm Not a Fan

There is quite a difference between a FAN and a FOLLOWER. The other day in a bookstore, I saw this book, "Not a Fan" and remembered reading it years ago and the impact it had on me. I started thinking about the difference in being a fan or a follower. It challenged me to become more of a follower than a fan of Jesus. Here's what the author said...

"I realize that many times I consider myself to be a follower (imitator) but I’m really just a fan (enthusiastic admirer). Jesus can’t be simply one of the choices…He must be THE choice. He IS the way, the truth AND THE life.

God sent Jesus to give His life so that He could have yours.

Is He your one of many or your one and only? Have you made a decision for Christ or are you committed to Christ? It’s about so much more than walking an aisle and praying a prayer. Fans do that. Jesus said you must deny yourself (turn from your selfish ways) take up your cross DAILY and follow Him."

And this is MY story…

Twelve years ago my 20 year marriage ended. I was shocked, confused and tried to do everything I could to isolate and insulate myself from the pain I was experiencing. I felt such a deep hurt that I can honestly say I never even considered what other people might be thinking of me. I thought I must be broken and I needed to be fixed and when I was fixed, well everything would be normal again. I was serving the Lord as the Lead Pastor at church and the worship leader, championing the message of Christ and talking each week about God's saving and restorative power. I was wearing the jersey for Team Jesus and sporting all of the garments of my team. I knew all the cheers and I encouraged people each and every week. Several times, I’d spend my nights inside the worship center questioning what had happened, going over every detail,  and worrying about the future. I was desperate for some new plays because everything in the original playbook had been destroyed. 

It was in this darkest season of my personal life that the LIGHT of Jesus began to heal. I was down but I wasn't out. Each and every day something in me was being renewed. His spirit was changing me on the inside and those changes would soon surface in my countenance, my actions and my messages. It was during the attack on family and finances that I saw clearly the difference in making a decision for Christ and committing to Christ. Repeating a little prayer would not change this. I needed to commit…to dedicate myself to imitating what this Jesus would do and how He would respond. He embraced me when life pushed me away. 

Today, I am still working for the Lord…healed and empowered by the grace of God…turning away from my selfish ways, taking up MY cross DAILY…and following Him. 

My name is Joseph Stephen Jones, aka Cup of Joe and I’m not a fan.