March 4, 2026
Rediscovering the Real Jesus
KYLE IDLEMAN
Lee en español
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23 (NIV)
“Daddy, can I put another heart in him?” My 6-year-old daughter stood at the stuffing station in the Build-A-Bear Workshop, eyes wide with wonder.
“Of course. The more love, the better!”
She carefully tucked the second heart inside her bear. Then the attendant helped her fill her creation with stuffing.
“How do you want your bear to feel? Super squishy or nice and firm?” the attendant asked.
“Squishy!” my daughter declared. “I want to be able to hug him really tight.”
The attendant continued, “Now, what kind of voice do you want? We have growling or roaring, or you can record your own message.”
My daughter chose to record herself saying, “I love you bear-y much!” Then she selected her bear’s clothing: a colorful tutu and a sparkly tiara.
It struck me that the Build-A-Bear was exactly the way she wanted it … but nothing like a real bear.
This isn’t just a childhood teddy bear phenomenon; it’s the air we breathe. We live in a culture obsessed with customization. From curated playlists to build-your-own burrito bowls, we instinctively assume the world should conform to our specifications.
Personalization can be helpful. We’re all unique. But there can be a dark side, too, especially when it comes to spiritual truth. Somewhere between selecting our smartphone cases and personalizing our license plates, we often find ourselves unintentionally taking a “Build-A-Jesus” approach to our faith.
We decide how “squishy” our Jesus should be — firm enough to support us but not challenge our comfortable lifestyle.
We select which voice we want Him to have — perhaps He says “I love you” or “you’re forgiven” but certainly not “take up your cross” or “sell your possessions.”
We dress Him in accessories that fit our preferences — perhaps a political pin or a self-help book promising prosperity.
This customized Jesus becomes a spiritual stuffed animal rather than a Messiah King. But the Jesus of the Bible doesn’t invite people to just believe whatever they want about Him. Consider how He describes discipleship: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Jesus is recruiting for a revolution, not offering a comfortable religious experience or an add-on to our already established lifestyles. He’s a King calling for complete allegiance.
For many of us, the danger isn’t that we’ll reject Jesus outright but that we’ll accept a version of Him that doesn’t challenge us, change us, or call us into His revolutionary movement. We’ll keep our “Build-A-Jesus” — comforting and comfortable — while the real Jesus stands at the door knocking, waiting to lead us into something far greater than religious consumerism. He is not a spiritual stuffed bear; He is a roaring lion on a mission (Revelation 5:5).
Dear Lord, forgive me for the ways I have created a Build-A-Jesus version of You. I want to know the real You — the revolutionary Messiah King. Help me to rediscover what it means to follow You completely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Are you tired of superficial Christianity? Do you desire to know Jesus more fully? Grab your copy of The Missing Messiah: The Jesus We Can No Longer Ignore by Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore today!
ENGAGE
Connect with pastors Kyle Idleman (@kyleidleman) and Mark E. Moore (@markmoore330) on Instagram for biblical teaching and inspiration.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
John 17:3, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (NIV).
What teachings of Jesus do you find yourself avoiding because they’re too demanding or uncomfortable?
How might your life look different if you fully embraced Jesus as your King? Share with us in the comments!
© 2026 by Kyle Idleman. All rights reserved.
Photo credit: ©LightFieldStudios
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
