Greetings Doves, i have been reading a Christian book by author Kyle Idleman titled " Not A Fan " . I would like to share it with you all over the next several weeks. The main purpose of the book is to encourage all believers in Jesus to lives their lives as true followers of Christ, not just as fans. In other words, in a football game you have the fans in the seats cheering on the players on the field. Jesus wants us all to be on the playing field, doing what He has called us to do, not just sitting in the seats

This is the first section of the book :

You  just walked into your favorite coffee shop and there is Jesus. You
can tell its Him. He looks at you, He knows you, and invites you
to join him for a cup of coffee and conversation.

Don't you wish you would have had some kind of warning He
would be there? Would you have done the drive thru instead?

Jesus invites you over to join him, in fact he buys your cup of
coffee for you. That is exactly what we are going to be doing the
next 6 weeks of the season of Lent, right up to Holy Week and
Resurrection Sunday. We are going to sit in on some
conversations Jesus had with different folks he met along the way
to the cross.

We will discover the one main question he posed to each of them:
                      "Are you a fan or follower?"

We will also realize that Jesus has pulled up an extra chair and
asked us to enter the conversation. We will be challenged during
this season of Lent to find out if we are a fan or follower.
How will we go about answering the question?

Before you think you don't want to have a seat, let me remind
you that Jesus knows your name. He knows about how life is
going for you. Go ahead and have a seat and enter this
conversation with Jesus to find out if you are a fan or follower.
So where do we start in determining the answer to the question if
we are a fan or follower of Jesus?

 
DTR
What's that?
.
DTR: Define The Relationship!

Jesus calls each of us to DTR with him.
He doesn't desire a long distance relationship.
Each of us must DTR with Jesus.
This is the official talk that takes place to determine our level of
commitment with Jesus. He wants to see where things are
between Him and you. Is your relationship with Him exclusive or
a casual weekend date?
Are you a fan or follower? 

Every February there are 100,000 plus car racing folks who go
find their seats to witness the Daytona 500 NASCAR race.
They come to cheer on their favorite driver. You can tell who they
are a fan for because they have the shirt, cap, flag, etc. of the
driver they are a huge fan of. They are enthusiastic admirers of
their favorite race car driver.

Every Sunday there are millions of people, all over our country
and world, who find their seats in different sizes of stadiums or
sanctuaries. They have come to cheer on their favorite Savior,
Jesus. The sponsor has never changed. All ages are drawn to
Him. The question that is asked of each is whether or not they
are a fan or a follower?

Jesus was never interested in fans. That is evident in his
question he asked his followers in our bible reading. Did you hear
it? How would you answer it over a cup of coffee with Jesus?
"You don't want to leave to, do you?"

Jesus had just had a conversation with many and many decided
to leave. It was too hard for them to accept what he was saying
to them. In fact, it was shared that many turned back and no
longer followed him. What happened? Why did they get up and
walk out on Jesus?

DTR! Jesus defined the relationship!
It is easy to follow Jesus when it's comfortable and fits into our
schedule and lifestyle. It is no problem to confess Jesus as long
as it doesn't get into my finances or undercut my popularity or
hurt my image I have with my friends or family.

What was hard for the people to accept? The Greek word used
for "accept" means not hard to understand but hard to accept or
incorporate into one's life.

Jesus defined the relationship when he told them they would
need to "deny themselves!" (Luke 9:23).
Jesus wasn't looking for a stadium full of fans. He was DTR'ing:
defining the relationship of those who would be followers. They
would be willing to commit their love to him forever.

Those who were "fair weather fans" of Jesus walked away. Why?
They may have realized that he wasn't going to be the conquering
military king that would overthrow the oppressive government. 
 
Others may have walked away because they realized they were
not going to get what they wanted from Jesus. Many wanted the
free meal without responsibility. As long as I can get what I want
from Jesus I will follow him. But as soon as I realize he is to be
the authority in all areas of my life...I'm outta here!

Jesus refused to give in to the self-centered, "it's about me"
requests. His teachings were difficult because the relationship he
defined was one of total surrender to His will. It was a
relationship of faith and not fortune.

If we come to get something from Jesus then when it comes to
humility and suffering we will turn away and no longer follow him.
We will turn back to our old ways of living.

There is no middle ground with Jesus. He will not meet you half
way on your bargaining deal. Deny yourself, take up the
cross and follow Jesus. That's the DTR. (Luke 9:23)
Jesus didn't intentionally try to repel people from him with signs
of damnation and a loud bullhorn. He simply spoke the truth in
love.

Judas hung in there in hopes of trying to use Jesus for personal
gain. He was found out.
DTR!

Jesus asked the disciples, "Do you also want to leave?"
He asks us to sit down and join him for a cup of life. In the
course of the conversation he asks, "Do you also want to leave?"
Some will pretend to follow by going to church for status sake.
Others to be approved by family or friends. Others come to
outreach to get what they can for themselves.

Some of us play the "comparison game." We compare our
commitment to Jesus with some spiritually anemic person. We
are not as bad as so and so. The only comparison we are to
make is to Jesus. Deny yourself! 
 
Peter's answer to Jesus' question was one of loyalty and a
personal relationship of love.
"Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of
real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves,
confident that you are the Holy One of God."

DTR?

Fan or follower?

How do you answer the question?
How do you define the relationship with Jesus?
There are many things we may not understand about Jesus. We
may be puzzled and confused about this relationship with Jesus.
We stumble over some of the truths Jesus teaches.
DTR basically comes down to whether you are a fan or a follower
of Jesus?

One of the most sobering passages of scripture tells of a day
when many who considered themselves followers of Jesus will be
stunned to find out that he doesn't recognize them.

In the gospel of Matthew, 7:21-28, Jesus tells a day where
everyone will stand before God. On that day, many who called
themselves followers of Jesus will stand confidently in front of
Jesus only to hear him say, "I never knew you. Away from me."

Jesus had invited them over and over to sit and DTR. They
refused. They went on to live for themselves. They were not
willing to "deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus."
For the next 6 weeks, right up to Resurrection Sunday, we will be
seeking to DTR...to Define The Relationship we have with Jesus!
Will you show up each week for a cup of coffee and conversation
with Jesus?

Each morning when you pour your first cup of coffee, tea,
milk...invite Jesus to join you. Have some conversation of
honesty as you DTR: fan or follower? 


have a blessed day,  Gary Rich
yfc77jesus@aol.com