Jesus was and is a marketer. That may seem way too secular, but it’s true. And, as with all things He is and does, He is a Master Marketer. Though I am sure He would fail even the most basic marketing exam given in today’s classroom. You see, Jesus doesn’t need millions of WWJD bracelets to be sold online. Nor does He need thousands of John 3:16 t-shirts to be distributed at sold-out concerts. He doesn’t need His name in lights. He doesn’t even need millions of Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest fans. Gasp!
Jesus simply needs you and me to love another.
Simple? Well, probably not very simple since you and I are like stupid sheep and uncooperative clay. We complicate the whole marketing plan with our petty squabbles and unrighteous indignation when Jesus is calling us to let our light shine.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
That doesn’t mean we should never buy a bracelet or t-shirt. Nor does it mean we shouldn’t use every possible technology for the sake of the Gospel and God’s glory. What it does mean is that all of those things are dreadfully ineffective when our lights are hidden under baskets of sounding brass and clanging cymbals. (Remember I Corinthians 13?)
I fear that we who claim Jesus as Savior have replaced loving one another with gadgets and gimmicks and programs, even good ones. And the world sees right through our façade…but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can tear down the walls of pretension and, with reckless abandon, love one another. Paul tells us how in Romans 12:9-21. I encourage you to read the entire context of Romans 12 as we hit the highlights in the next section.
One Another Living 