People keep discovering how their heroes and role models are deeply flawed human beings. It is wise to choose carefully who we select as teachers. It is wiser still to spend time getting to know Jesus better and to become more like him. His flawless life is a light attracting everyone who yearns for what is good, better, and best. 

I follow a daily Bible reading plan through the YouVersion Bible app. The plan I use this year is the BibleProject: The Bible. I supplement this plan with a psalm matching the day of the year. For example, today is the thirty-seventh day of 2023. I read Psalm 37 this morning. It is one of the finest jewels in that classic collection of poetry and songs. 

I also supplement my Bible reading plan with daily doses from the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I read from Luke 6 today. 

A professor who was described to me as a modern mystic taught his classroom students and those who read his books how to read through the Gospels daily. Those daily doses could be as brief as a verse or as long as a chapter. I typically read and ponder a paragraph.

Years ago, a staff member of one of the secular gurus who sells out stadium events and whose every book sells at least a million copies, visited the office where I worked. He showed us a photo of himself sitting next to this world-renown influencer. The Great Man Himself sat staring out at nothing as his young protege asked him questions. 

The Great Man Himself is thoroughly aligned with the politically correct mood of the moment. He is careful to tell people what they want to hear so that they will continue filling stadiums and buying books. 

Jesus, on the other hand, spoke the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to everyone everywhere. He did not do this to offend people unnecessarily. Instead, he necessarily offended people who lived their lives out of step with God and his eternal truths. 

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to us is for us to be offended, and in the offense, discover we are the one who is living offensively. Take a look at John 3:16 and 17. Jesus did not come to offend, but to save. Whenever we are offended by Jesus, we can be assured we are the problem. We can also be assured that his solution to our problem is full of grace and compassion. His solutions benefit not only us but everyone we influence. 

I really don’t want to know Stadium and Book Guy any better than I already do. I want to know Jesus better every day. I don’t want to miss a day listening to his words of truth and life and seeing his compassion in action. I want to be more like him who has no skeletons in his closet and whose every action expresses love that seeks my highest and best.

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I will spend time with Jesus every day.

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Our Father, thank you for giving us a written compendium of truth and life. Thank you for a leader we don’t have to fear being exposed for some tawdry sin. Thank you for a teacher who is worth following and emulating. Amen.