Mike Yaconelli - You Dont Have to Be Perfect to Follow Jesus. A 30-Day Devotional Journal

Other Books by Mike Yaconelli:

Messy Spirituality

Dangerous Wonder

Getting Fired for the Glory of God

The Core Realities of Youth Ministry

Play It!

ZONDERVAN

You Dont Have to Be Perfect to Follow Jesus

Copyright 2004, 2013 by Mike Yaconelli

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

ePub Edition December 2013: ISBN 9780310742647

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Interior design and composition: Greg Johnson/Textbook Perfect

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

A LIENS ARE FOREIGNERS, STRANGERS in a strange land. Aliens dont speak the native language, dont follow the customs and traditions, and dont fit in. Aliens are typically uncomfortable, awkward, and unsure of themselves in their new foreign homes. Disciples are aliens in this world. Many of the values found within our culture are foreign to disciples. Disciples dont naturally fit into a society thats largely out of touch with God. Theyre uncomfortable-looking, and they feel out of place in the everyday world. Disciples of Christ find themselves continually at odds with the culture, because they have different values, different priorities, and a different language. Disciples feel odd and estranged in contemporary culture and thats just how they ought to feel.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:1415, 1 PETER 2:912

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Todays Top 10

Make a list of the top ten things that make you different from everyone else.

Journal Entry

The more I try to be like everyone else the more I build walls around myself. I need to tear down the walls. I need to celebrate who I am. I take today and I will...

Someone Just Like You

Diane found herself at the center of the conversation. The slumber party had been going strong since last night, and now, at three in the morning, the talk was getting serious. Come on, Diane, what do you mean youve never looked at a Victorias Secret catalog? Its more than the underwear, which, frankly, I cant believe you dont care about. Its the models. They look so good. I want to know their secret; dont you?

Life Hint:
Fitting in is not always a good thing.

Not really, Di said. Thats why I dont go out with guys right now. Im too young, too easily influenced by guys. I could easily be obsessed with how I look. And I know this sounds stupid, but my faith really matters to me. Thinking about guys and about my body and my clothes and makeup all the time doesnt make a lot of sense when I could be learning more about God.

Get real, Di. The only reason youre saying that is because you already have a body worth dying for and looks to go with it. Every guy in class wants to go out with you. I mean, come on, you want to learn more about God? Thats psycho. Whats wrong with you?

Diane sat up, not sure if it was anger or hurt feelings that she felt inside. Hey, I know, I know. Girls are considered crazy if they dont sit around drooling over guys and trying to turn them on by wearing tight skirts and miracle bras. Frankly, I dont like being pretty because it keeps people from trying to get to know me. I think its sick to turn on guys just so I can feel good. Besides, I dont want some guy who just likes my body. Call me weird if you want, but Im totally happy to have no guys in my life right now.

The conversation ended awkwardly, and Diane eventually fell asleep. Later on that night something woke her up. She would rather not have heard the whispered conversation that was going on.... but she doesnt make sense. Shes full of it and you know it.

Shes just plain weird. All this talk about God is a bunch of baloney.

Diane pretended to turn over in her sleep so no one could see her crying.

IN THE STORY

If you were Dianes best friend and she came to you with what happened at the party, what would you say to her?

A UTHORITY IS A WORD that most young people dont use for one simple reason. Its a power word... and adults are the ones who generally have all the power. When adults want to describe reachable goals for you, they usually use words like maturity, growth, humility, or patience, but seldom, if ever, do they use authority.

But disciples of Jesus can have authority, whatever their age. This kind of authority is not the kind that acts like a know-it-all. Its the result of simply living for the one who has all authority. The authority of a life for Christ always has greater influence than the authority of talking. A young person can possess all of the benefits of authority influence, respect, and strength just by following Jesus wherever he leads.

Heres an easy way to know whether you have tapped into Gods authority or not. If your friends ask for your advice, if they want to be with you when they are in a crisis, if they refer their friends to you, if they defend you to others... then you know that they see you as someone with authority.

MATTHEW 10:114

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Life Hint: