Sometimes, I think Jesus is summed up best in one word…crazy! If you really watch him, listen to what he teaches and apply it to your life, you might agree with me. This man is nuts! Consider for a second one of his more famous teachings:
“Don’t resist an evil person!
If you are slapped on the right check, turn the other, too.
If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.”
What was he thinking? Does he really understand what he’s asking us to do? What are the end results of a life like this? Do I really have to allow myself to be beat up to follow Jesus? Do I really have to freely give my stuff away, without resistance — even more — does he really expect me to give more than what they are trying to take from me or to serve more than what is being required by a person in authority over me? Do I really have to live this way?
That’s what’s amazing about the way of Jesus! It doesn’t make any sense from the perspective of self-preservation. But that’s just it. That’s the complete wrong perspective.
Jesus has invited us to follow him, which means that we live life like him. That we watch how he talked…how he interacted with people…how he touched the untouchable…how he loved the disgraced…how he accepted the prostitute…how he forgave those who were intent on killing him. We stand at the shadow of the cross and hear his words echoing, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves take up their cross and follow me.” And from that vantage point, all rebuttals that Jesus was just talking rhetorically disappear.
Here is a radical God that is recklessly demonstrating the depth of love he has for us. It’s a love that transforms us to the very core. So much so, that it becomes who we are. It becomes what we offer. And at this point, we stop asking, “Does he really want me to do this?” and we begin asking, “Who is the next person I can share this with?” And this sharing is so much less about what we say…it’s about who we are. It’s about being willing to die so someone else might live!
Yeah, this is crazy – but what a beautiful way to live!
landoncollard 
How do I get off this email list??
Amie,
I’d be glad to help you with that. I’m sorry if it’s been a frustration to you. My hope is that this blog is an encouraging challenge toward the best life possible.
You should be able to “unsubscribe” the same way you signed up to receive notifications. If you click on a link to the blog from your email or Facebook, it will take you to a post. At the top right, there is an option to “subscribe” to the blog through email. If you are already signed up, it should give you an option to “manage” this from the same location. Click on that and unsubscribe.
With love,
Landon
I understand this reckless love a little. The more I find out the less I knew
Absolutely John! It’s the most amazing gift to experience and the most incredible challenge to give. I say, bring it on!!!