Crazy

So, "Crazy" is not just the title of my favorite Patsy Cline tune, it's also a good definition of what it means to follow Jesus in this world!  Following Jesus is crazy!  Why am I saying this?  Because following Him flies in the face of what the world tells us to do.  Even the Apostle Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 1:18-31 that the world thinks the Cross is foolish, but that God takes the foolish things and turns them to wisdom.  Anything that calls you to give up something you want, or serve someone else above yourself, or say no to a desire, or love someone that hates you.....all these things are not what the world tells us to do.  The world tells us to strive for what we want no matter the cost, to serve ourselves above all else, to say yes to every physical and mental desire we have, to love me more than you, to cancel any culture that holds to a belief of responsibility, accountability and acknowledgment of a power greater than our wants; but following Jesus calls us to take a stand against that kind of thinking and the world does not and will not understand such a concept.
The world doesn't understand the radical concepts of Jesus, just as the religious leaders of His day did not understand; and the things that people don't understand are the things that scare them and things that scare us lead us to seek the destruction of those things.  It is human nature at its most basic...the need to rid ourselves of things that scare us and things we don't understand.  It is fear that drives everything in our world.  Fear of diseases we don't understand, fear or people we don't understand, fear of concepts, ideas, opinions, beliefs we don't understand.  Fear is the opposite of Love and as long as fear is driving our world, it will seek to consume anything and anyone it does not understand. All that is perceived to threaten a pursuit of behavior without thought or consequence will be hated by the world.  Jesus said that we would be hated (Luke 21:16-17), so we need not be surprised when we are hated and need not be silent at the thought of it, for this world does not hold our reward.  Our time on this earth is our time to work.  It is in our life in heaven that the true and everlasting rest and joy without end will be!  The best thing on this earth pales in comparison with the least of what is in Heaven!  
If you are a believer, take a stand today and love what the world tells you to fear, embrace what Jesus calls you to, and live in His Hope.  Even if no pastor, priest, or religious leader stands with you, remember that Christ always stands with you just beyond the limits of your physical vision and that His Spirit and its power dwells within you!