The Real Thing

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Matthew 5:7

Three words a Coca-Cola loyalist hates to hear are: “Is Pepsi ok?” Coca-Cola has a rich, crisp bite, compared to the mild, sweet sip of Pepsi. They are not interchangeable. Coca-Cola is, as they say, the real thing. The question can only be answered politely with, “I’ll just have a sweet tea.”

We live in a world where brand loyalty is promoted. Chevrolet, not Ford. Android, not iPhone. Stanley, not Yeti. Pizza Hut, not Dominoes. Everywhere we turn we are making decisions, insisting we know the difference, refusing to take what we consider to be an inferior version. Except, too often, when it comes to following Jesus. 

Perpetually, discipleship is branded as a capital campaign. Its slogan is, “If we build it, they will come.” Increasingly, discipleship is branded as a social media presence. Its slogan is, “We need your help. Follow, subscribe, and hit that “like” button.” Historically, discipleship is branded as a political lobby. Its slogan is, “A little moral compromise is ok if we pass this bill.”

People of genuine longing for Christ too often buy these brands, not realizing that none of them are the real thing. None of these brands or the hundreds of others the world offers lead to the Kingdom of God. That’s because real discipleship is the ministry of mercy for the widow, the orphan, the sick, the stranger, the imprisoned, and the unbelieving. Only in ministering mercy to the least of these have we actually ministered to Jesus himself and shown that we are his.

Father, if I’ve been taken in by a version of discipleship that is false, show me. Make me merciful for that is the way of Jesus.