I’m Arlen Yoder of the Soulwinnnersr.us website. Remember, the angels in heaven rejoice when a family member or friend gives their heart to Jesus. The title of my post today is, “MAKING JESUS VIRAL . . . AGAIN!”
These days, there’s a lot of emphasis on people becoming ‘social influencers’. Their goal in life is to influence others and also make a living by making viral videos. So-called 'social influencers' even offer training on how to help others become ‘social influencers’ and make a living by making viral videos.
Some social influencers just seem to have what it takes for their videos to go viral. Matt Spears, for example, is a very likable young man who recently took the biggest jet ski on the market on a 1,300-mile voyage from the state of Washington to Skagway, Alaska. It was the longest jet ski voyage in history. His adventurous, dangerous journey drew over 8 million views and counting, including mine, as he encountered large ocean waves, hungry bears, and even two large blue whales at one point following close behind. Those whales could’ve tipped his jet ski with one swing of their tails.
Mr. Spears’ utter aloneness was palpable. He kept himself busy filming his trek on the sometimes angry ocean waves and camping in very isolated wilderness settings. I consoled myself with the fact that he obviously returned safely because he posted the viral video. Mr. Spears' only career right now is making ‘viral’ videos—very well, I might add.
I propose, however, that we as Christians focus on becoming, instead of social influencers, ‘Jesus influencers.’ Our goal as ‘Jesus Influencers’, instead of trying to become viral ourselves, is ‘making Jesus viral—again’. I use the word ‘again’ because when Jesus walked the earth, and in the days after he died and rose again, as depicted in the Book of Acts, he was indeed very ‘viral,’ although they didn’t call it that back then.
How do we accomplish making Jesus viral—again—in our church and in our community? I think the first step starts with us getting to really know and love Jesus—again. I’m not saying that we don’t really know and love Him now. I just want, for myself and perhaps for the rest of us, to really get to know Him better. For that to happen, I believe we need to train our minds to think of Him more and more and more.
I’m not talking about having guilt trips if we don’t think about Him as often as we think we should. I’m talking about making a conscious effort at various times during each day to bask in his great love for us.
Sports stars frequently use the phrase, “we’re practicing to get better and better every day”. It’s kind of comical to me. Our goal, as Jesus influencers, is to practice knowing and loving Jesus ‘better and better every day.' As Jesus said in Luke 10:27: “With all our heart,” “with all our soul”, “with all our strength”, and “with all our mind”
I think our love for Jesus will be so evident—and even contagious to outsiders—that it will give us, as Jesus influencers, a great start on ‘making Jesus viral—again!’
See you next time.
