Obsessed with following Jesus

My home church, Faith Baptist on the east hill of Kent is studying Francis Chan's "Crazy Love." He wrote in the 8th chapter that followers of Jesus who obsessed with Him:

RJC in Kent

... give freely and openly, without censure. 

...love those who hate them and who can never love them back” (p. 132).

...aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else.  

...care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress” (p. 133).

...live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another.  

...believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him” (p. 135).

...more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo.  

 

...will do things that don’t always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth” (p. 136-137).

...the sin of pride is always a battle.  

...can never be ‘humble enough,’ and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known” (p. 138).

...do not consider service a burden. 

...take joy in loving God by loving His people” (p. 139).

...are known as givers, not takers.  Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world” (p. 140-141).

...thinks about heaven frequently.  

...orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them” (p. 142).

...is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being” (p. 143).

...are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures.  Obsessed people don’t put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace” (p. 144).

...have an intimate relationship with Him.  They are nourished by God’s Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative missions” (p. 145).

...is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.  

...true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances of environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God” (p. 146).

...the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying, ‘Thank You!’ to God.  

...there can never be intimacy if he is always tyring to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy.  He revels in his role as child and friend of God” (p. 147-148).