John Son Of Zebedee:- Thundering Character Gives Way To Loving Disciple. Series

The technical term for it is sanctification

Where we grow as believers.

Where we experiment with our Christianity and learn how God wants us to live.

Where we seek to put off those aspects of our lives which the Bible calls unholy.

Where we learn to put on that which is holy.

As works in progress we are allowed to make mistakes. We are allowed to seek forgiveness. We are allowed to start again. And we are allowed to admit it.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

(1 John 1:8, 10)

Which a great outcome all round. Because, when we realise that we are works in progress we also begin to realise that this allows us to be very effective disciples.

Sometimes Christians act as if they have it all together. But it is very intimidating when you meet people who think they have it all together. Who think that they are so good at what they do. Sometimes I believe that is what turns some people off Christianity. Those who are searching don’t feel that they are good enough ... and then they meet a group of people who put on a mask and pretend they have no problems in their lives.

At other times, and this happens much more, we look at ourselves with all our short comings and weaknesses. And we think, “How is it possible for someone like me to tell another person about Jesus?” We fall into this trap of thinking that, somehow, we need to have our lives completely together before we are able to tell others about Jesus. We don’t see that you can teach people how to boil an egg, even when you are not a master chef.

Both attitudes hinder our effectiveness. But when you come with a different attitude ... an attitude which says “I am a work in progress”, then our effectiveness level changes very quickly.

• Not-yet-believer “I’m such a bad person” … Believer, “So am I”.

• Not-yet-believer “I don’t deserve forgiveness” … Believer, “Neither do I”.

• Not-yet-believer “I’m sure I will mess up” … Believer, “I do all the time”.

• Not-yet-believer “We are the same” … Believer, “Yes we are”.

We both need Jesus just as much.

There is method behind the madness of Jesus when He chooses people like you and me to be His disciples. That’s because the very heart of Jesus’ ministry is to fix broken people by repairing our broken relationship with God.

Jesus has every right to call down fire from heaven in order to vaporise sinners.

We are so stubborn to the ways of God.

We have trashed the promises and taken God for granted.

We have turned … turned so much that we can be classified as enemies.

We don’t deserve anything except punishment.

Jesus has every right just to get rid of us. Instead He makes Himself a sacrifice for sinners.

That’s what the cross is all about. It’s not a place where sinners are vaporised … it’s a place where transformations are secured.

The cross where a hasty temper dies.

The cross where a revengeful spirit is crushed.

The cross where unbridled prejudice meets an eternal end.