Being With Jesus

Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons.

Mark 3:13-15

FIX THE FAUCET. Mow the lawn. Clean the garage. It seems as if there’s a growing list of things to do around the house. Our responsibilities as Christians can sometimes feel the same way: Read the Bible. Attend a prayer group. Serve in the community. Give to the poor. When following Jesus is viewed in this way, our closeness with Him can get lost.

Just as owning a home brings big responsibility, so does following Jesus. However, Jesus calls us to a relationship before He gives us responsibility. To say it another way, Jesus calls us to be before He calls us to do.

When Jesus called the twelve disciples, He had a specific job for them to do. He called them to do the same things He had been doing up to that point—preach the gospel and heal people. But before Jesus sent them out, He first called them to be with Him in order to learn from Him. Jesus called them to be His apprentices.

When you spend time with Jesus, is it merely to check off something from your daily to-do list? Or do you submit yourself to Jesus in order to be taught by Him so that you can live like Him? He desires a personal relationship with you—that’s not just popular Christian vernacular. You were made to know Him and love Him, and that comes from spending time with Him.

BOTTOM LINE

Following Jesus is about being with Jesus, in order to learn from Jesus, so that we can live like Jesus.

Moment of Strength: John 1:35-39