The Great Misconception

“Kenda, why do you think people do not serve God?” my mother asked me. “Do you think they just have misconceptions about who He is?”

I answered her with a nod, “Yes, absolutely.”

Misconception: A wrong or inaccurate idea or conception.

Merriam Webster Dictionary

My mind pondered on all of the whys: Why do people have so many misconceptions about God? Why do people choose idols? Why do they stray away? Why, why, why, why…

Then I stopped to look at myself. God was challenging me by way of self-reflection and lingering thoughts as a result of my mother’s curious, yet very genuine question.

As a Christian (believer), I am called to be an ambassador. I am called to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I am not called to simply go to church, I am called to be the church. The church is not simply an organization, but it is an organism. It is a living, breathing, functioning organism.

I realize everyone has a choice, and I respect that. There are many reasons some people have misconceptions about God. Doubt, unbelief, trauma, the list goes on and on…

As a believer, one of the most sobering realizations I had was this: What if some people never get to know, understand, or encounter Jesus Christ simply because at some point, in some way, shape, or form – I (or other Christians) have misrepresented Him? Ouch…

How does this happen? Well, sometimes we allow “self” to get in the way and we lose focus of the big picture. We get side-tracked and become entitled. We forget about the foundational principles of faith. We neglect the fruit of the Spirit and choose the “easy” way. Sometimes we choose the non-committal, self-gratifying, self-righteous (pride) of life…

God, forgive me. Forgive us…

May we learn and grow in the grace to represent Jesus well. ALL facets of who Jesus is – the LION and the LAMB – better than ever! The love, restoration, transformation, and healing that we desire to see in the earth must take place within us first. The great commission requires great commitment.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19, NKJV

I challenge you to take a moment and reflect on what God has commissioned you to do. What is your assignment? How does Jesus desire to be represented through your life? I promise, He has given you the grace to finish what He started in you.

Let’s choose to be a part of the solution.

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:34-38, NKJV