Profile of the Obsessed

I want to be a disciple. 

In the previous post, I shared Francis Chan's "Profile of the Lukewarm," and challenged us to do some self-examination. The following is Chan's "Profile of the Obsessed." 

To be completely obsessed with Jesus is to be a disciple. To love him above all else.

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People who are obsessed with Jesus…

• Give freely and openly without censure… love those who hate them and who can never pay them back.
• 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.
• 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.
• Are 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.
• Know that the sin of pride is always a battle…know that you can never be “humble enough” and so they seek to make themselves less and Christ more known.
• Do not consider service a burden…take joy in loving God by loving His people.
• Are known as givers, not takers.
• Genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.
• Think about heaven frequently…orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them.
• Are characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.
• Are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or failures…don’t put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.
• Have an intimate relationship with God…are nourished by God’s Word throughout the day.
• Are more concerned with character than comfort…know that true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances or environment.
• Know that the best thing they can do is be faithful to their Savior in every aspect of life, continually saying, “Thank you!” to God…know there can never be intimacy if they are always trying to pay God back or work hard enough to be worthy…revel in their role as a child of God.