My Jesus

As “missionaries”, we seem to get a lot of really…interesting…remarks and comments. Most of them, we take in stride. But, then there are days, when we just want to go, “Really? You really want to say that to me? Why??” This weekend has been full of such happenings. Yes, the Lord has called us to be missionaries and to give up home and belongings and the “American dream”. But, what I always want to remind everybody is that – He’s called you, too!! The command in Mark is to “GO”. The command in Matthew is to “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.” There is no exclusion; no age limit; no discrimination. Just because Brian and I are going doesn’t make us more important and definitely not more qualified or more spiritual. The Lord has obviously called…why would we stay home? No, it’s NOT easy. In fact, some days, it’s much harder than I can express to you. And reading my friends’ emails who are now overseas…I know it’s gonna get harder. Is it worth it? Oh yes. Every single second is worth it. Why? Because ultimately, it’s not about life on this earth. Some day, I want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” and actually mean it. Because some day, I want my actions to be thrown into the fire and have only gold and precious metals remaining. In order for that to happen for me, I must move to South America and serve the Lord somewhere else. What does it mean for you? I think our view of serving the Lord and being like Jesus is messed up these days. Church is just something you do on Sundays, not because you desire to be there or because you want to worship the Lord with other believers. It turns into a task, a chore, and you don’t even enjoy the people you’re worshiping with. This music video that I posted is called “My Jesus” and it’s my favorite song by Todd Agnew. His lyrics are hard and they’re real and that’s why I like it. It’s 6 minutes long and I actually don’t really like the video itself, but it’s the only way I could find to post the actual music. I have included the lyrics below so you can read them if you’d rather not watch the video. But, the music….wow, it changes the lyrics so they mean even more. But, my favorite part is at the end, where he says, “I wanna be like my Jesus, but I’m not sure what that means.” Just because we’re missionaries doesn’t mean we need to be put on a pedestal and applauded. I’m still searching and studying to be like our Jesus. I hope you are, too.

“My Jesus” by Todd Agnew

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we’d recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He’d prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I’m tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I’m not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus