You need Jesus….. and circumcision.
You need Jesus …. and baptism.
You need Jesus … and the right voting record.
You need Jesus … and natural family planning.
You need Jesus … and modesty.
You need Jesus … and an accountability partner.
You need Jesus … and a social justice cause.
You need Jesus … and the right denominational label.
You need Jesus … and a tithe cheque receipt.
You need Jesus … and a purity ring.
You need Jesus … and feminism.
You need Jesus …. and Bible memorization.
You need Jesus …. and organic food.
You need Jesus … and fair trade.
You need Jesus … and an engagement with pop culture.
You need Jesus … and your rights to assault weapons.
You need Jesus … and a moral majority.
You need Jesus … and a church membership.
You need Jesus … and a proper education.
You need Jesus … and a podcast preacher.
You need Jesus … and a pristine personal history.
You need Jesus … and a husband.
You need Jesus …. and a baby.
You need Jesus … and a worship experience.
You need Jesus … and an hour of daily quiet time.
You need Jesus … and a certain size on your clothing.
You need Jesus … and a pledge of allegiance.
You need Jesus … and a political party.
You need Jesus … and to keep your kids in Sunday school.
You need Jesus … and approved doctrines.
You need Jesus … and an altar call.
You need Jesus … and prosperity.
You need Jesus … and poverty.
You need Jesus … and an official sanctioned prayer.
You need Jesus … and and and and and and…..
Let go of your “should” and your “ought to” and your “need to” and your implied and overt “and” attachments to Jesus. Live like Jesus is enough, and remember you do not earn any part of your redemption.
You don’t need to be qualified by a committee. You are accepted because, simply, He is enough. You can relax. You are loved and you are free.
You don’t need anymore “and” in your life. Jesus is enough.
Jesus is enough.
God alone is enough, yesterday, today, and forever.
Wildflowers, sparrows, you, me, listen: ” What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (Matthew 6:31-33 MSG)
Sarah Bessey is the author of “Jesus Feminist”, a disarming and beautiful invitation to the Kingdom of God waiting on the other side of the Church’s gender debates. She is an award-winning blogger at www.sarahbessey.com, an editor at A Deeper Story, a contributor for SheLoves Magazine, and a passionate advocate for global women’s justice issues. One of those happy-clappy Jesus-followers, Sarah is a recovering know-it-all, far too fond of British television, and a bookworm. She lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, with her husband and their three tinies.
