Making Jesus Famous: Living a Life Centered on Christ

In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But what if we could simplify our lives and focus on one central purpose? What if that purpose was to make Jesus famous?

This powerful idea challenges us to reorient our lives around Christ, not just in word but in every action and intention. It's about more than just believing in Jesus; it's about living in a way that constantly points others to Him.

The concept of making Jesus famous isn't about seeking attention for ourselves or even for our faith. Instead, it's about allowing the presence of God to shine through us in every situation, whether we're intentionally sharing our faith or simply going about our daily lives.

There's a beautiful promise in the Great Commission that often gets overlooked. After Jesus instructs His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, He adds, "And lo, I will be with you always." This promise of His constant presence is perhaps the most profound part of the commission. It reminds us that as we seek to make Jesus known, He is right there with us, empowering and guiding our efforts.

Living with this awareness can transform even the most mundane moments into opportunities for divine encounters. Imagine walking into a room and carrying the presence of God with you, so tangibly that others can sense it without you saying a word. This is the kind of impact we can have when we're truly focused on making Jesus famous.

But how do we cultivate this kind of Christ-centered life? One key aspect is worship. Worship isn't just something we do on Sundays or when we're feeling particularly spiritual. It's a lifestyle, a constant orientation of our hearts towards God. King David said he would praise God seven times a day. While he didn't have a smartwatch to remind him, he made a conscious effort to regularly turn his attention to God in worship.

Worship has power beyond just expressing our love for God. It aligns us with His reality, shifts our perspective, and even serves as a powerful weapon against spiritual darkness. There's a story of a spiritual leader who, when feeling attacked by negative thoughts, turned on worship music in his hotel room and commanded every demonic force to stay and listen while he left the room. This illustrative tale reminds us of the potency of praise and worship in spiritual warfare.

Another crucial aspect of making Jesus famous is avoiding the trap of the "drama triangle." This psychological concept involves three roles: the victim, the villain, and the rescuer. It's easy for well-meaning Christians to fall into the rescuer role, championing causes and fighting perceived injustices. However, this often leads to a cycle of drama that distracts from our true purpose of pointing people to Christ.

Instead of getting caught up in these roles, we're called to direct people back to Jesus. When someone comes to us with a problem, rather than immediately jumping in to rescue them, we can ask, "What is Jesus doing in you through this situation?" This approach keeps the focus where it belongs – on Christ and His work in our lives.

Making Jesus famous doesn't mean we'll never face challenges or failures. In fact, the apostle Paul, who did so much to spread the gospel, often spoke about how God's power was made perfect in his weakness. This reminds us that our imperfections and struggles can actually become platforms for God's glory to be displayed.

We're encouraged to embrace failure as an option, as long as we keep Jesus first. When our failures are about Jesus rather than ourselves, we interpret them differently. They become opportunities for growth and for God's grace to be magnified, rather than sources of condemnation or reasons to give up.

There's a powerful verse in Mark 1:28 that says, "Immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee." This verse can serve as a personal mission statement for those committed to making Jesus famous. It speaks of an immediate impact, a spreading influence, and a full-circle revolution centered on Christ.

Living with this purpose doesn't mean neglecting our other responsibilities or relationships. Rather, it infuses everything we do with new meaning. Our work, our family life, our hobbies – all of these can become avenues through which we make Jesus known.

As we embrace this calling, we may find that some of our priorities shift. We may become less concerned with our own reputation or success and more focused on how we can reflect Christ in every situation. This doesn't mean we abandon our goals or dreams, but rather that we submit them to God, trusting Him to guide our steps as we make our plans.

In the end, making Jesus famous is about recognizing that everything – our salvation, our healing, our purpose, our very lives – is all about Him. It's about turning our eyes upon Jesus, looking full in His wonderful face, and finding that the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

So let's challenge ourselves: How can we make Jesus famous today? In our interactions, our decisions, our responses to both blessings and trials, how can we point others to Christ? As we do, we may find that not only does His fame spread, but our own lives are transformed in the process, becoming ever more aligned with the beautiful purpose for which we were created.