How do we build meaningful relationships in a fractured world? As I’ve deepened my walk with Christ, I’ve discovered a transformative truth: the answer lies in modeling how Jesus himself connected with others. Believers recognize this as discipleship, yet the principles transcend religious boundaries. Anyone seeking a more joyful and connected life can benefit from understanding how Jesus engaged with the world around him.
What strikes me most about Jesus’ approach is his radical openness. He refused to live in isolation or construct barriers between himself and those society deemed unworthy. The religious elite of his time criticized him relentlessly for breaking bread with sinners, for healing the marginalized, and for entering spaces that “holy” people avoided. Rather than retreating from the world, Jesus engaged it fully, meeting people where they were.
This understanding has shaped how I live out my own faith. While deeply personal, my relationship with God is not something I keep hidden. Everyone in my life knows the source of my identity and confidence, not because I preach at them, but because an authentic faith inevitably reveals itself through action.
James articulates this truth powerfully in chapter 2, verses 14-17: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
These words have become a cornerstone of my spiritual journey. I’ve come to understand that while religion cannot be reduced to outward acts alone, genuine faith always produces them. Consider the natural world: a living tree’s condition tells you everything you need to know about its vitality. You don’t wonder if it’s alive. Its fruit, or lack thereof, provides the evidence. Similarly, living faith produces visible fruit through good works, service, and love in action.
Living a Life That Invites Curiosity
This conviction has led me to a defining commitment: I want to live in a way that makes people curious. Not curious about my achievements or status, but curious about the source of joy, peace, and purpose that animates my daily life. I’ve chosen to engage actively in every arena where God has placed me, bringing the same authentic presence to each sphere.
These arenas include:
- Marriage: Thirty-one years of covenant partnership, continually learning what sacrificial love means
- Fatherhood: Raising two beautiful children with intentionality and grace
- Professional life: Serving in the business world with integrity and excellence
- Community service: Contributing as an elected school board member
- Citizenship: Honoring my role as a proud American patriot
Regardless of which arena I occupy at any moment, I remain the same Marc. I strive to reflect Jesus’ character in each setting, knowing full well that he sets a standard I’ll never perfectly reach this side of heaven. Yet that reality doesn’t diminish my aim. It simply reminds me to extend myself the same grace God extends to all of us as imperfect, fallen, yet deeply loved human beings.
I see myself as an ambassador for Christ, entrusted with both a mission and the authority to speak truth in love. These responsibilities weigh on me daily, compelling me to execute them with care and conviction. This is what it means to live out the greatest commandments found in Mark 12:30-31: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Entering the Lions’ Den
Recently, I had an opportunity to practice these principles in an unexpected way. I took my daughter Jarah and four of her friends to a Sabrina Carpenter concert in Pittsburgh, an evening that became one of my most meaningful relationship-building experiences. Not only did it strengthen my bond with Jarah, but it also deepened my connection with her friends, five impressionable eighteen-year-old women navigating a culture saturated with destructive messages and temptations.
I won’t pretend that Sabrina Carpenter’s content aligns with biblical values. It doesn’t. Her music and persona often model attitudes and behaviors contrary to what I believe honors God. Yet my response wasn’t to simply say “no, you can’t go” and create distance. Instead, I chose to enter the “lions’ den” alongside these young women, ensuring their safety while demonstrating that we can engage culture, enjoy life, and still maintain our values and witness.
That evening created memories none of us will forget. More importantly, it provided a living example of how faith operates in the real world, not through isolation or judgment, but through presence, protection, and the quiet modeling of appropriate behavior. I’m grateful to God for opportunities like these to be an ambassador for Jesus in the everyday moments that shape young lives.
This is what discipleship looks like when it moves beyond theory into practice. It’s messy, imperfect, and requires constant discernment. But it’s also rich with meaning, connection, and the profound joy that comes from loving God and loving others well. That invitation remains open to anyone willing to step into it.
MindWolves 