Obsessed with Jesus
Obsessed: To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic.
"The idea of holding back certainly didn't come from Scripture. The Bible teaches us to be consumed with Christ and to faithfully live out His words. The Holy Spirit stirs in us a joy and peace when we are fixated on Jesus, living by faith and focused on the life to come." (p. 129)
Lovers
"True faith is loving a person after he has hurt you. True love makes you stand out." (p. 130)
"People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back." (p. 132)
Risk Takers
"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress." (p. 133)
Friends of All
"People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him (1 John 2:2-4; Matthew 16:24-26)." (p. 135)
Crazy Ones
"If one person 'wastes' away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?. . . When people gladly sacrifice their time or comfort or home, it is obvious that they trust in the promises of God." (p. 136)
"Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, 'There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day; (Luke 14:25-35; Matthew 7:13-23; 8:18-22; Revelation 3:1-6)." (pp. 136-137)
The Humble
"It's pride, plain and simple, that keeps me from giving God all the glory and keeping some of it for myself." (p. 138)
"A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough', and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known (Matthew 5:16)." (p. 138)
Servers
"People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people (Matthew 13:44; John 15:8)." (p. 139)
Givers
"(God) doesn't just ask us to give; He desires that we love those in need as much as we love ourselves." (p. 140)
"People who are obsessed with God 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 (James 2:14-26)." (p. 141)
Sojourners
"Most Americans, and even more so those of us in Southern California, think about life on earth way too much. Much of our time, energy, and money are channeled toward that which is temporary." (p. 141)
"A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them." (p. 142)
The Engrossed
"Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love with God. (p. 143)
A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being." (p. 143)
Unguarded Ones
"God desires true intimacy with each of us, and that comes only when we trust Him enough to be fully transparent and vulnerable. (p. 144)
People who are obsessed 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)
The Rooted
"How much of your money is spent on yourself, and how much is directed toward God's kingdom? How much of your time is dedicated to pursuing your life and your goals, and how much is focused on God's work and purposes? God doesn't want religious duty. He doesn't want a distracted, half-hearted 'Fine, I'll read a chapter. . .now are you happy?' attitude. God wants his Word to be a delight to us, so much so that we meditate on it day and night." (p. 144)
"People who are obsessed with God 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 messages." (p. 145)
The Dedicated
"We tend to think of joy as something that ebbs and flows depending on life's circumstances. But we don't just lose joy, as though one day we have it and the next it's gone, oh darn. Joy is something that we have to choose and then work for. . . When life gets painful or doesn't go as we hoped, it's okay if a little of our joy seeps away. The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life. (p. 146)
A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4)." (p. 146)
Sacrificers
"There is no way we can contribute or add to God. He has everything and is complete. (p. 147)
A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying, 'Thank you!' to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God." (pp. 147-148)
What does it look like in your own life to be wholly surrendered to God?
Visit the Crazy Love website.
"The idea of holding back certainly didn't come from Scripture. The Bible teaches us to be consumed with Christ and to faithfully live out His words. The Holy Spirit stirs in us a joy and peace when we are fixated on Jesus, living by faith and focused on the life to come." (p. 129)
Lovers
"True faith is loving a person after he has hurt you. True love makes you stand out." (p. 130)
"People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back." (p. 132)
Risk Takers
"People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress." (p. 133)
Friends of All
"People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him (1 John 2:2-4; Matthew 16:24-26)." (p. 135)
Crazy Ones
"If one person 'wastes' away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?. . . When people gladly sacrifice their time or comfort or home, it is obvious that they trust in the promises of God." (p. 136)
"Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don't always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth. As Martin Luther put it, 'There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day; (Luke 14:25-35; Matthew 7:13-23; 8:18-22; Revelation 3:1-6)." (pp. 136-137)
The Humble
"It's pride, plain and simple, that keeps me from giving God all the glory and keeping some of it for myself." (p. 138)
"A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough', and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known (Matthew 5:16)." (p. 138)
Servers
"People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving His people (Matthew 13:44; John 15:8)." (p. 139)
Givers
"(God) doesn't just ask us to give; He desires that we love those in need as much as we love ourselves." (p. 140)
"People who are obsessed with God 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 (James 2:14-26)." (p. 141)
Sojourners
"Most Americans, and even more so those of us in Southern California, think about life on earth way too much. Much of our time, energy, and money are channeled toward that which is temporary." (p. 141)
"A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them." (p. 142)
The Engrossed
"Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love with God. (p. 143)
A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being." (p. 143)
Unguarded Ones
"God desires true intimacy with each of us, and that comes only when we trust Him enough to be fully transparent and vulnerable. (p. 144)
People who are obsessed 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)
The Rooted
"How much of your money is spent on yourself, and how much is directed toward God's kingdom? How much of your time is dedicated to pursuing your life and your goals, and how much is focused on God's work and purposes? God doesn't want religious duty. He doesn't want a distracted, half-hearted 'Fine, I'll read a chapter. . .now are you happy?' attitude. God wants his Word to be a delight to us, so much so that we meditate on it day and night." (p. 144)
"People who are obsessed with God 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 messages." (p. 145)
The Dedicated
"We tend to think of joy as something that ebbs and flows depending on life's circumstances. But we don't just lose joy, as though one day we have it and the next it's gone, oh darn. Joy is something that we have to choose and then work for. . . When life gets painful or doesn't go as we hoped, it's okay if a little of our joy seeps away. The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life. (p. 146)
A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4)." (p. 146)
Sacrificers
"There is no way we can contribute or add to God. He has everything and is complete. (p. 147)
A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying, 'Thank you!' to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God." (pp. 147-148)
What does it look like in your own life to be wholly surrendered to God?
Visit the Crazy Love website.
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