Jesus set the best example of what it means to look beyond outward appearance. When Andrew first brought his brother Simon to Jesus, the Bible tells us that “Jesus looked at him” (John 1:42). The particular Greek word for “looked” is one that speaks of an intense and concentrated gaze — the kind of look that is able to see beyond the actualities of a person’s life. When Jesus looked at Simon, He saw beyond the actualities of his life to behold the possibilities. That’s why Jesus said, “So you are Simon son of John?” — in other words, “I can see who and what you are. I can see the same thing that everybody else sees and knows about you at face value.” But, Jesus looked beyond those actualities to behold what others did not see in Simon. Jesus said to him, “You shall be called Cephas (which means Peter).” Peter is the Aramaic word for “stone” or “rock.” Jesus saw what no one else could see in Simon: the capacity to become a solid and rock-like man. So, Jesus gave Simon a new name, one that would remind him of the possibilities that Jesus had seen in his heart. Jesus did not give Simon the new name Peter because he already was a rock-like man, but rather because he had the potential to become one. This new name was a prophetic statement of what Jesus was going to make out of Simon — it foretold his new character.

When I consider how Jesus looked at others I am convicted about how often I judge a book by its cover. It’s far too easy for me to look at the actualities in the lives of others and make hasty judgments about them. However, it is much harder to look past those actualities to try to behold the possibilities — the things that nobody else can see. I am determined to become more like Jesus and to ask Him to help me see others with His perceptive and discerning eyes. I am thankful for those individuals in my past who looked at me through the eyes of Jesus and saw potential in my life that nobody else saw. Over the years I have learned that we are the most cruel, unkind, and unfair to others when all we can see are the actualities in their lives. But, when we begin to see the possibilities in others and how God can use us to help them realize their highest potential in Christ, then we become better people as we help others to become better people. The old Spanish dicho is right on target: Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos. May we allow God to help us look beyond actualities to behold the possibilities.

Paul lived every day with this thought in mind: “Living is Christ to me.” Starting on the day he encountered Christ on the Damascus road, his life was never the same again. From that point on he lived every day in the presence of Christ who inspired him to persevere through good times and bad. Christ gave Paul a new direction in life by making him an apostle and evangelist to the Gentiles. As he served Christ, Paul discovered how Christ’s all-sufficient grace and strength was made perfect in his own weakness. His greatest joy and reward was intimate fellowship with Christ. And for Paul, Christ was not only the beginning of his life but also the end. Paul lived every day with eternity in view and longed for the day he would be united with Christ. If Christ were to be taken out of life, for Paul there would be nothing left.

But, what about us? Do we echo Paul’s conviction about Christ? Is He truly everything to us? Have we considered what life without Him would be like? Do we tell others how wonderful He is and how He helps us to live with purpose from day to day? We must embrace Paul’s conviction concerning Christ if we are going to have joy in spite of the circumstances and if we are going to share in the furtherance of the Gospel. How would you complete the following sentence: For to me to live is __________ and to die is __________. Try filling in the first blank with words like money, fame, success, possessions, or anything other than Christ and then see what words you would have to use to complete the second blank. For example, “For me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.” I am determined to live adventurously and courageously for Christ knowing that even if I die doing so, I still win!

I wrote this particular blog because we need to have healthy dialogue about the methods we use in our efforts to share the message about Jesus. Unfortunately, we have too many things at our disposal with which to obscure the beauty of Jesus. And, it’s easy to give in to the temptation to think that Jesus isn’t enough and that we must use lesser things to attract people to Him. I heard a story about a little boy who complained to his mother that the family dog did not like him and always refused to play with him. So, the mother found a solution — she tied a pork chop around her son’s neck. And, for the first time, the dog played with the boy … at least for a while. But once the pork chop was gone, so was the dog! We must be careful that we do not employ similar methods in our efforts to attract people to Jesus.

I also wrote the blog because of absurd, albeit sincere, methodologies that prostitute the gospel in the brothel of popularity. Some are so afraid of making others uncomfortable that they emasculate and tame the gospel so that people will like it. We don’t need to hang a pork chop around the gospel nor should we apologize for it. It is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). What message are we sending to a lost world when we offer everything from tickets to sporting events to drawings for high-definition televisions in our efforts to get people to walk in the door? And, does the end justify the means? Hence, the title of my blog: Isn’t Jesus Enough?

My travels take me to some of the most difficult and dangerous places on the planet. I am convicted every time I travel to these places and meet believers there who have nothing but Jesus to offer others. He is the only attraction. And, because these believers have nothing with which to obscure Jesus, those seeking answers can see Him clearly. He is not hidden beneath hype nor gimmicks. That’s important because when the people in these places accept Him they do so knowing that they might suffer persecution as a result. I don’t know of anyone who is willing to die for a high-definition television but I have met many in my travels who are willing to die for Jesus.

So, thanks again to each of you who read my post. I hope that my words caused you to think deeply about the beauty of Jesus and to ask hard questions about the sanity of the methods we employ to share Him with others. May we never obscure His beauty and splendor with things that moths can eat and rust can corrupt. Jesus is beautiful and He is indeed enough!

In recent weeks I have become increasingly disturbed by some of the things that churches are doing in the name of the gospel. One church promises a free gift to every first-time guest. I’m not certain how many unbelievers will be swayed to get up, get dressed, and go to a church filled with people they don’t know just to get a free gift. And, if you can attract and keep a member from another church with a gift, then …! Enough said. This is just one more reason why I am not a fan of the attractional paradigm. I believe there is something better that can attract people to the gospel — namely a person who genuinely loves, cares, and befriends others who don’t know Christ.

Then, a friend showed me a mailer from another church in a neighboring community. This church is giving away a quarter of a million dollars of free electronic gadgets, vacation getaways, bikes for kids and even a motorcycle. That’s right, they are giving away a quarter of a million dollars of stuff to people whose homes are already overstuffed with stuff. All of this to illustrate that the best things in life are free! To make this campaign even more attractive they are advertising: “There’s no catch. No weird stuff. No commitment.” Sorry, but this is all a bit weird. Are these really the best things? Is this really the ultimate giveaway? It’s my understanding that the ultimate giveaway happened more than two-thousand years ago when Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins.

As someone who is committed to mobilizing the church to be the church — to be Jesus with skin on in the community, I was stunned. Having mobilized thousands to leave the pews to engage with people in the community, I know what God can do in and through members who will give themselves away instead of trying to attract people to us by giving away stuff. My previous blog post was about asking God to break our heart for what breaks His. Is God’s heart really broken because someone does not have a high-definition television or other stuff like that? Or is His heart broken for widows and orphans and the oppressed that live among us? How is it possible to be so out of touch with the passions of God for the lost and hurting people in our workplaces and neighborhoods? The Houston area ranks at the top of the list of places in this country where young girls are trafficked and forced to work in the commercial sex trade. By some estimates there are less than one-hundred beds in safe-houses in this country for girls who are rescued from sex-trafficking. Imagine the lasting impact that a quarter of a million dollars could make in providing a safe haven for these rescued girls and in promoting justice. How can you justify giving more stuff to people who rent storage units to keep their extra stuff when we are surrounded by so much need? How can you justify that kind of stewardship?

When I was in India two months ago with more than forty of our students, I noticed that they talked only about Jesus and how wonderful He is. I told our students that at home, Christians tend to talk about everything but Jesus. However, working among the least of these and with the one-hundred-plus girls who reside at the safe-house we support in West Bengal, our students could only talk about Jesus and how wonderful He is and how He loves and cares about people and has the power to transform lives. It was all very much like the first-century when the church focused on Jesus and the importance of making a commitment to follow Him.

Something good happens when we focus on Jesus and exalt Him. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). He is the draw, not a drawing for door-prizes. Why do we think that Jesus isn’t enough and that we must bait people with stuff? I told our students in India that my prayer was that as they returned to their normal lives at home their default setting would be to talk about Jesus first and make Him the focus of their conversations. I challenged them to be Jesus with skin on and to earn the right to share the gospel by the way they love and care for others. There is something attractive about seeing Jesus with skin on — seeing someone who cares and who serves as He did.

I am not a member of the giving-away-stuff church. They are an autonomous body of believers who decide for themselves how they will relate to their community. They alone are responsible for their stewardship of funds. If they want to give away free stuff then they can give away free stuff. As for me, I will continue to challenge those under my influence to give themselves away, to look at our community as Jesus would, and to allow God to break their hearts for what breaks His. I will continue to challenge people to meet their neighbors and to meet needs. I believe that Jesus is enough and that when we exalt Him good things happen. I’d really rather have Jesus than stuff!

N = Needs | Investing personal interest in others is one of the best ways to learn about their needs. Parents who spend time with their kids are more likely to know about the challenges or hurts their kids are facing than parents who are too busy to do so. The same is true of any relationship. The less time we spend with others the less likely it is that we will know about and be responsive to their needs. That’s why it’s so important that we take time to converse with others and to actually listen to what they say. Spending time with others, asking meaningful questions, and listening to them can give us valuable insight into their lives.

V = Vision | Vision is the ability to look beyond the actualities in order to behold the possibilities. Jesus demonstrated that kind of vision. When Jesus met Simon for the first time, He looked beyond what Simon was and envisioned what he could become (John 1:42). Jesus then took the time to help Simon reach his potential — to become Peter, the solid man Jesus had envisioned he could become. When we invest interest in others and learn about their needs, it’s much easier to envision how God can use us to make a difference in their lives. However, God can’t use us to make a difference in the lives of people facing loneliness, addictions, suicide, domestic abuse, divorce, or hopelessness unless we take that first step of being genuinely interested in the welfare of others.

E = Example | Jesus set the ultimate example of what it means to invest in others. The Apostle Paul said that Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” (Phil. 2:7). Paul also outlined what it takes to invest in others: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your personal interests, but also for the interest of others” (Phil. 2:4). It’s easier to be filled with self-importance than it is to empty ourselves and regard others as more important than ourselves. But, unless we are willing to empty ourselves of ourselves, we will miss opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.

S = Sacrifice | Paul also said that Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:7-8). It always costs us something to make the kind of investment that will yield big dividends. Investing in the lives of others may require us to give up what we want in order to give others what they need. But, if we will look beyond the actualities to consider the possibilities, then we can sacrifice with the confidence that what we invest will yield fruit in the future.

T = Time | It takes time in order for any investment to mature and to begin yielding dividends. The word “time” reminds us that we must faithfully stick to the task of investing in others, that we should not grow weary in well-doing, that we should not become discouraged —  thinking that our time and efforts are being wasted, and that we should remain prayerful, persistent, and patient as we allow God to use us. If we do this, then we will see our investment come to maturity. So, let’s invest in others. And, let’s always keep in mind that investing personal interest in others is the first step to making a difference in their lives. Who will you invest in today?

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of peasant woman. He grew up in still another village where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

While He was still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only property He had while on earth, and that was his coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life.

Some of the versions of this story include these concluding remarks: Over the centuries millions have found new life — forgiveness for sins and peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Today He offers this life to all who will believe in Him. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” And He said, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 14:6, 5:24).

   Like Rizzo, we should all strive to emulate this quality. We need to intentionally work on sharpening our peripheral vision because unless we first see what’s there we will never be moved to respond compassionately. In the case of the Good Samaritan, the Bible says that “when he saw” the man who had been beaten and left for dead, “he felt compassion” (Luke 10:33). Seeing precedes compassion. However, seeing does not always result in compassion, as in the case of the priest and the Levite in the story who also “saw him” but continued on their way (Luke 10:31-32). So, how do we develop peripheral compassion? As I have thought about the answer to this question over the past few days, here are a few of the things that have come to mind. I hope these suggestions will help you to respond compassionately to what you see in your peripheral world.

Slow Down | Most of us are in such a hurry to get from Point A to Point B that we seldom consider the things that live in the blurry peripheral world. For example, we drive past hospitals but seldom consider those in the hospital. We drive past the guys begging for pocket change on street corners but seldom reflect on what they will have for lunch or where they will spend the night. We walk past people in our workplace and often miss the cues that signal they are in pain or carrying a weight of worry on their shoulders. So, slow down and take the time to look at who lives in your peripheral world.

Turn Your Head | Most of us are so focused on who or what is in front of us that we seldom turn our heads to see who or what is beside us. We get in our cars in the morning to drive to work or take the kids to school and easily miss the things along the way that indicate a need. For example, I have learned that the one house on the block that begins to show signs of neglect does not necessarily mean that I have a lazy neighbor. In some cases I have met widows or single moms living in those homes — nice people who have fallen on hard times and are struggling to make ends meet. So, take the time to turn your head to the right and to the left as you drive down the street in order to look for indicators of unmet needs.

Tune Your Ears | One way to sharpen your peripheral vision is by seeing with your ears! Learn to listen to what those around you are saying. You can discover a lot about what’s going on in other people’s lives by taking the time to listen to what they are saying. And, don’t miss the subtle clues. The writer of Proverbs said, “Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief” (Prov. 14:13). So, learn to tune in to others. You’ll have a better idea of how to respond compassionately if you know why and how people are hurting.

Open Your Mouth | If you see or hear something that concerns you, then ask questions. On more than one occasion I have actually knocked on a door, introduced myself as a Christ-follower from Kingsland, and asked about whether or not there was a need we could address. And, I have learned that, sometimes, folks are just grateful that I took the time to ask them about what is going on in their lives. Asking questions is one way to let others know we noticed them and that we care. So, don’t remain silent if you suspect someone may be in need. Open your mouth and at least inquire. You may miss opportunities to respond in a compassionate manner if you fail to talk to others.

Roll Up Your Sleeves | Like the Good Samaritan, do something to help. You can’t do everything but you can do something. Don’t underestimate how God can use even the smallest act of kindness extended in Christ-like love to the people in your peripheral world. Rizzo writes, “Jesus lived His life seeking opportunities to turn His love for people into action — everything a servolution is about.” So, roll up your sleeves and be willing to help.

Pay the Price | Extending compassion to those in your peripheral world will cost you. It’s much easier to rush from here to there and to convince ourselves that we don’t have time to notice or to help. After all, who has time to help a stranger change a tire in the rain or to offer to babysit for someone who needs to find a job? However, we will not change the world unless we are willing to pay the price and to be inconvenienced. So, allow God to show you where people are and what they are struggling with and then be willing to pay the price to help them.

For more on peripheral compassion, read my post entitled Heather’s Challenge.

   Rejection is a terrible thing. No one likes rejection. Anne Murray spoke for all of us when she sang, “I was born to reject rejection. If only for today, Show me that you want me, Show me that you need me, Send a little love my way” (from her song “Send a Little Love My Way”). The Bible certainly affirms the significance and worth of all human beings. In Psalm 8, David marveled at the fact that the God who created the universe considers us as more prized than the planets. Jesus also affirmed the worth of people. He spent time with those rejected by society and became known as “a friend of tax-collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19).

   Malchus is one of my favorite Bible characters (Luke 22:50-51 and John 18:10-11). He was the slave of the high priest. As a slave, it’s safe to say that Malchus understood what it felt like to be considered less than important by others. Malchus had followed Judas and the crowd to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus and His disciples were praying. He stood in the crowd and watched as Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss — the ultimate rejection. And then, when the soldiers stepped forward to arrest Jesus, Peter reached for a sword, took a wild swing, and cut off Malchus’ right ear. Here are three things that we can learn from the Malchus incident.

No Insignificant People | Jesus had spent a difficult night in prayer in the Garden (Luke 22:41-44). He knew that the excruciating agony of the cross was just hours away. Jesus felt the weight of things and certainly had valid reason for ignoring others. Yet, when Peter injured Malchus, Jesus forgot Himself and ministered to this bleeding slave. The Malchus incident reminds us that Jesus came to serve (Matt. 20:28 and John 13:14) and that there are no insignificant people in His eyes. Jesus always affirmed the worth of people, even publicans and sinners. We need to be like Jesus and affirm the worth and significance of others (see Phil. 2:3-4).

No Insignificant Problems | When Peter injured Malchus, Jesus did not walk away from the situation. Instead, He touched Malchus’ ear and healed him. The Malchus incident reminds us that Jesus cares about the problems of humanity. There are no insignificant problems in His eyes (read Matt. 9:35-36). Three invitations in Scripture remind us how much God cares about our problems. First, Jesus invites those who are weary and heavy-laden to come to Him (Matt. 11:28). Second, God invites us to cast all of our cares and anxieties upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). And third, God invites us to commit our way to Him (Ps. 37:5). We can confidently accept His invitations and lay our concerns at His feet. And, like Jesus, we should minister to others in their time of need.

No Insignificant Price | The Malchus incident reminds us that there are no insignificant people or problems because of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. Malchus was in the garden on the night before the crucifixion when Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Within hours of healing Malchus’ injured ear, Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us (1 Peter 1:18-19). The cross reminds us that sin is the most expensive thing in universe. Pardoned, the cost falls on Christ. Unpardoned, the cost falls on the sinner. Jesus affirmed our worth by giving His life on the cross. We must share the liberating message of the cross with those living under the burden of rejection.

   Comments like Choudary’s remind me of why I am attracted to Jesus and want to follow His example. Jesus never took a life but instead gave His life. Nor did He ever command His followers to harm or to use violence against those who reject Him or His claims. When one of His disciples drew a sword and injured one of Jesus’ own enemies, Jesus rebuked him and healed the injured man (Luke 22:50-51; John 8:10-11). Jesus was compassionate to the end. When any of His followers use the sword to persuade or to punish another, they do so in violation of His example and teachings.

   The birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was largely unnoticed by the world. But, it was noticed in heaven. The angel who first appeared to the shepherds was joined by a multitude of angels (Luke 2:13). John recorded in Revelation that he had seen an exceedingly great number of angels in his vision of heaven (see Rev. 5:11). The birth of Jesus prompted this heavenly host to join together in praising God.

   Like the angels, I too praise God for sending Jesus. He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). The message of Christmas is a message of hope for all people. Today, more than 2,100 people groups are still waiting for the opportunity to hear the Christmas story. Many of these people are kept in darkness by hostile cultures, governments, religions, and those who denounce Christmas as “the pathway to hellfire.” Every one of the 5.6 billion people on the planet deserves the opportunity to hear about and to make their own decision about the Christ of Christmas.

   The heavenly host expressed praise to God through a memorable doxology (Luke 2:14). These angels ascribed glory to God, who dwells in the highest heaven, for sending His Son into the world. The Christ of Christmas did not come to the world to pave a pathway to hellfire. Instead, He made this remarkable claim — “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). So, Mr. Choudary, I will take my chances and celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s “indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15). After all, when I look at Christmas and the Mumbai attack, Christmas is clearly the lesser of two evils! And, by the way, the Christ of Christmas loves you too, Mr. Choudary.

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Note | Read Muslim lawyer Anjem Choudary brands Christmas “evil”

   In John 14:1, Jesus urged Peter and the other disciples to stop being troubled — a word used to describe an ocean caught in the teeth of a storm. Storms have a way of tearing our confidence to shreds and leaving us fearfully clinging to any scrap of hope that can keep us afloat. The disciples were troubled because Jesus had announced that one of them would betray Him (13:21), that He was going to leave them (13:33), and that Peter would deny Him (13:38). Jesus knew that within hours the disciples would experience the full fury of the storm of betrayal, denial, and departure. Jesus therefore urged them to trust in God and also in Him and promised to give His disciples His peace (John 14:27).

   What about you? Are you caught in the teeth of a storm? Is something threatening to tear your world apart? Jesus does not guarantee the absence of trouble. However, he does invite us to anchor our confidence in Him and, by so doing, experience His peace in the midst of life’s storms. Putting our confidence in Jesus is the best antidote to the worry and anxiety that can tear us apart. And, it shows a doubting world the difference that Jesus can make in our lives.

   Sooner or later, you will find yourself caught in the teeth of a storm. Don’t let the waves and the winds sink your boat. Remember that you can face each storm with unshakeable confidence and peace if you will trust the captain (Jesus is always available to help us navigate through the storms), follow the charts (God’s Word gives us the guidance we need to navigate troubled waters), use the radio (stay in close communication with God), and look ahead (Jesus promised that a better place awaits us at the end of the voyage).

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Note | Encourage a friend by sending them a link to a post that has encouraged you.