How Seriously Do You Take Jesus?

Take a moment and rate yourself on a scale of one to 10:  10 being 100% committed to Jesus Christ, public with your faith, and actively walking with Him moment by moment; and one being “I think of Him occasionally.”

What’s your score? That’s okay – you can keep it to yourself.

This isn’t a gimmick. Jesus Himself actually gave us a litmus test for evaluating the answer to the question. See if you can discern His evaluation tool in these scriptures.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (John 8:31).

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21).

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).

So what’s the test? Taking Jesus seriously means taking His words seriously. Taking THE Wordthe Bible, seriously.

If we’re realistic and honest, this means not how seriously we think we take it. Not how seriously other people may think we take it. Not how we feel about it in private. Rather, when we see what Jesus says and how we respond or don’t respond — we will know where we are on that scale of how seriously we take Jesus.

Our lives will reflect it.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (Matthew 7:24-26).

Here’s another thought. What does Jesus Christ, the Son of God, deserve? Absolute worship, homage, and obedience. And yet, while on earth, He willfully became a servant and gave His life for us.

On the last night of His earthly presence – at the “Last Supper” – Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and implored them to follow His servant example from that point on. He announced they would soon no longer have Him with them. But to sustain and guide them, He summarized all His teaching into one great commandment.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

What was the new command? To love one another: “As I have loved you.”

Why was – is – this important? Because if we love others as Jesus loves us, everyone will know that we are His disciples, and will become aware of Jesus — and perhaps (Lord willing) His follower.

If we “hold to His teaching,” and “keep His commandments,” and “hear the word of God and obey it”… if we obey Jesus, the world will know His love.

So just how seriously do you take Jesus?

To explore this topic more in-depth, take a look at the series “True Spirituality” or “Spiritual Simplicity.”