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March 4, 2026<\/span><\/p>\n Rediscovering the Real Jesus<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen he said to them all: \u2018Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.\u2019\u201d Luke 9:23 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDaddy, can I put another heart in him?\u201d My 6-year-old daughter stood at the stuffing station in the Build-A-Bear Workshop, eyes wide with wonder.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. The more love, the better!\u201d<\/p>\n She carefully tucked the second heart inside her bear. Then the attendant helped her fill her creation with stuffing.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you want your bear to feel? Super squishy or nice and firm?\u201d the attendant asked.<\/p>\n \u201cSquishy!\u201d my daughter declared. \u201cI want to be able to hug him really tight.\u201d<\/p>\n The attendant continued, \u201cNow, what kind of voice do you want? We have growling or roaring, or you can record your own message.\u201d<\/p>\n My daughter chose to record herself saying, \u201cI love you bear-y much!\u201d Then she selected her bear\u2019s clothing: a colorful tutu and a sparkly tiara.<\/p>\n It struck me that the Build-A-Bear was exactly the way she wanted it \u2026 but nothing like a real bear.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t just a childhood teddy bear phenomenon; it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Personalization can be helpful. We\u2019re 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 \u201cBuild-A-Jesus\u201d approach to our faith.<\/p>\n We decide how \u201csquishy\u201d our Jesus should be \u2014 firm enough to support us but not challenge our comfortable lifestyle.<\/p>\n We select which voice we want Him to have \u2014 perhaps He says \u201cI love you\u201d or \u201cyou\u2019re forgiven\u201d but certainly not \u201ctake up your cross\u201d or \u201csell your possessions.\u201d<\/p>\n We dress Him in accessories that fit our preferences \u2014 perhaps a political pin or a self-help book promising prosperity.<\/p>\n This customized Jesus becomes a spiritual stuffed animal rather than a Messiah King. But the Jesus of the Bible doesn\u2019t invite people to just believe whatever they want about Him. Consider how He describes discipleship: \u201cWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me\u201d<\/em> (Luke 9:23).<\/p>\n Jesus is recruiting for a revolution, not offering a comfortable religious experience or an add-on to our already established lifestyles. He\u2019s a King calling for complete allegiance.<\/p>\n For many of us, the danger isn\u2019t that we\u2019ll reject Jesus outright but that we\u2019ll accept a version of Him that doesn\u2019t challenge us, change us, or call us into His revolutionary movement. We\u2019ll keep our \u201cBuild-A-Jesus\u201d \u2014 comforting and comfortable \u2014 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).<\/p>\n Dear Lord, forgive me for the ways I have created a Build-A-Jesus version of You. I want to know the real You \u2014 the revolutionary Messiah<\/em>\u00a0King. Help me to rediscover what it means to follow You completely. In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 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<\/em> by Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore today!<\/p>\n Connect with pastors Kyle Idleman (@kyleidleman) and Mark E. Moore (@markmoore330) on Instagram for biblical teaching and inspiration.<\/p>\n John 17:3, \u201cThis is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n What teachings of Jesus do you find yourself avoiding because they\u2019re too demanding or uncomfortable?<\/p>\n How might your life look different if you fully embraced Jesus as your King? Share with us in the comments!<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 by Kyle Idleman. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Photo credit: \u00a9LightFieldStudios<\/span><\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
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