NEW CEO EPISODE OUT NOW:
Today is the first article in a four-part series inspired by my incredible conversation with the CEO and co-founder of Hallow, the number one Prayer app in the world, Alex Jones.
There was so much fruit in our time together that I have had an abundance of lessons to mull over. That said, I believe it makes the most sense to start with a discussion about Jesus, the one at the core of all of this. The only one that makes it make sense.
The other articles to come from this conversation mean nothing if Jesus is not at the center.
—
Regardless of your position on faith or religious association, I earnestly ask you to proceed with an open mind and willing heart as we explore what it really means to be a Christian and, by result, love well.
When I asked Alex, he explained the answer lies at the core of Christianity itself and began his response with a simple analogy:
“If you take a flower and you cut it off from its roots. You cut it off at the stem. It will still smell, for a while, and it will still look like a flower, but eventually, it will die. But for the first bit, you don't really notice; it smells and looks like a flower. It's still beautiful, but eventually it dies.”
Alex went on, “At the root of Christianity is Love; that is why it is so appealing to so many. It’s a reflection of what sits at the Core, which is the Lord…. When we sit in that, let him love on us, we can't help but go back out and want to share that love with others.”
As someone who, at times, wrestles with how to be both firm in belief and tender in stance, this response took me aback and stunned me in its simplicity. That shouldn't surprise us, as we can be so quick to overcomplicate things that we often forget that the simplest truths are the ones worth holding onto.
When you come near to Jesus, you will realize he is the most remarkable individual you will ever meet. And as a natural response to that fact, you will find that you can't help but love well.
You won’t be able to stop telling people about “This guy I know, Jesus!”
We so often get caught up in sharing the belief systems and principles surrounding Christianity that we leave out the root of the word: Christ.
Alex explains that at the core, this is all just a relationship with a guy. A mutual back and forth of loving him and letting him love you. Don't believe it? Let us look at Jesus’s initial invitation to his disciples to see how he framed and said it himself. In Mathew 4:19, he tells his would-be disciples:
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Listen carefully to those words, he instructs his disciples, those who would become closest to him and experience the good news firsthand to come, draw close, and THEN begin to follow him. At the foundation of his call lies a compassion and yearning for us to approach and stay near.
He then assures them that he will equip them and send them out. Jesus doesn't say, “Come, do everything in your power to be perfect so you can be with me” or “Come, I expect you to step it up”. He just asks them to “follow him” and get closer; that's all. It's that simple. He knows that it begins with proximity to God, and the rest comes after.
You will notice a similar pattern if you extend this beyond and look at his other invitations throughout the written Gospels. Time and time again, Jesus starts with an invitation asking you to come closer.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest! -Matthew 11:28
Jesus stood and cried, saying ... if any man thirst let him Come unto Me, and DRINK... -John 7:37
Jesus said unto them, "Come and dine!" -John 21:12
Come and See -John 1:39
Come and Take up your cross -Mark 10:21
Come away to a secluded place and rest -Mark 6:31
Come you blessed of my father and inherit the Kingdom - Matthew 25:34,
He begins every invitation by asking us to draw close to him, leading back to the most crucial invitation: to follow him. These are all an extension of His caring hand saying, “I love you, come near.” They’re a formal invite into a sincere relationship with him.
With that context, the furrowed brows within our culture at the mention of Jesus' name are just a misunderstanding of who He is and what he calls us into. How could we not become excited when this is all true?
With this in mind, I encourage everyone to pursue that relationship first and then allow the rest to come. For those who already follow Jesus and profess his name with sincerity, the second beauty of this message lies in the natural extension of getting to know him. This is where loving well occurs.
When you intimately know Him yourself, you won’t be able to help but constantly share how amazing he is and, therefore, love well in the process. If we truly believe in who the Lord claims He is, could you imagine the impact, the goodness, and the joy that would permeate us and everyone around us? It would be incredible beyond imagination!
It's the kind of world I would like to live in. The kind we should all strive to actualize. But for now, to take a step in that direction, begin by getting to know Jesus yourself. Not just psychologically or by trying to “feel” for him. But a sincere and personal relationship. And when you do, I hope you will believe His goodness and realize you can't help but live life loving well and telling others about Him.
You will eat of the fruit of the greatest tree ever to take root.
—
A flower cut from its stem will wither and fade, and a man left to his own devices, no matter how good his intention, will eventually come to nothing as his core is not founded on something of substance.
And what is at the center of it all? Jesus, a man extending the invite into a constant, present, unfailing, sincere relationship, not empty religion.
Don’t overcomplicate it with doctrine or regimes. Allow those to have their time and place after you have established your connection to the Lord. Know that if you do your part and begin to draw near to God, then He will meet you in unexpected ways. You will find him if only you search. We are promised this in James 4:8:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
That's the greatest encouragement anyone could ever share.
- Making The Most Of Being Curious
Daniel J. Cuesta
Afterword:
If you are yearning to meet this Jesus and get to know him and love him as we’ve just discussed, I encourage you to check out the Hallow app and try it for free for 90 days as we approach this Lent season: Hallow.
To watch the full interview, visit the DC Youtube channel here: DanielCuesta007
Comentarios