What should be the most noticeable things which stand out about the lifestyle of a follower of Jesus? Some people try to be outstandingly strict in adhering to moral rules. Some try to be outstandingly politically conservative. Some try to be outspoken against the abandoning of wholesome values. And some are just outstandingly weird.
It seems to be that none of these outward appearances accurately reflects the message of Jesus. According to the gospels, a true follower of Jesus would be someone who shows remarkable forgiveness, love for enemies, concern for the outcast, hunger for righteousness, humility, self-sacrifice, and earnest desire for peace. A true follower is characterised by generosity, patience, kindness, unselfishness and self-control.
Conceptually, it really isn’t hard to stand out from the crowd as a follower of Jesus. The crowd as a whole don’t display these character traits. If you start acting like a true follower of Jesus, surely other people are going to notice. But still, there’s something that holds us back. Somehow it’s much easier to be the enforcer of moral values than to be a dispenser of Jesus’s grace.