Choose the path of both compassion and justice.

(Listen to my song “I Want to Follow You” by clicking HERE.)

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Mark 8:27-28

Along the way Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

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That’s a good question. Who do you say Jesus is?

There was a time when I mentally knew who Jesus was. I had all the information about him. But what effect did that information have on my life?

I held a lot of beliefs and would generally critique others as to whether they had the “right” set of beliefs or not (by “right” I mean my beliefs of course).

This kind of thinking often results in forming a harsh, judgmental attitude that decides who’s in and who’s out.

But when I read the gospels…I did not find a harsh, judgmental Jesus. Instead…I found a Jesus who reached out to the rejects, the poor and the sick. He didn’t divide based on beliefs.

Who were the harsh, judgmental ones? The Pharisees (religious leaders).

I was like the Pharisees!

It dawned on me that if Jesus was “the way, and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) as he claimed…then that knowledge should have a positive effect on my life. As I intensified my pursuit of knowing Jesus more deeply…my life started to change for the better.

My heart softened.

I realized that information about Jesus was a far cry from transformation through him.

My transformation came in the process of being unconditionally loved while humbly following him in my imperfection.

So…who do you say he is?

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Listen to the song of the day “I Want to Follow You” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!