Transformed by Being WITH Jesus
by Mark Shuey
Day 1:
A Decision of Destiny
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 1:42)
We never know what may happen within any given day that could quite possibly change our lives forever. Oftentimes we feel our daily lives might lean towards the mundane. However, in everyday living there are times when the profound can suddenly explode into our lives and we are never the same.
I think of that exact, life altering type of situation when I read John 1 about a young man named Philip. I imagine he woke up, as usual in his fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, expecting another ordinary day. And yet by the time he went to bed that evening, his life had taken a dramatic turn. Little did Philip realize that a man named Jesus would speak two words to him on that day. Words that would lead him into a life of incredible heights, thrilling adventure and powerful purpose. When Jesus looked at Philip and said, “Follow me,” Philip embarked on a new vibrant and abundant life. The apprenticeship of Philip was underway. It is with this intentional decision that Philip stepped into a life of discipleship with Christ.
Jesus speaks the same two words to each one of us: “Follow me.” Follow me into a new life of faith that sees the world through the prism of God’s goodness and sovereignty. Follow me into a life that perseveres through life’s most difficult circumstances and follow me into a life permeated by love. The gentle offer of Christ to follow Him is, as pastor and author John Mark Comer writes, nothing less than “the single most extraordinary opportunity in the universe.”
For Reflection:
1. Apprenticeship begins with an attraction to the one you follow. Read John 1. As you read, focus on the qualities of Christ that have attracted so many to Him. What attracts you?
2. Pray a prayer of surrender and presence this week. Tell Jesus that you are not the captain of your life and ask Him to be with you throughout each day as the Shepherd of your thoughts, words and tasks.
Day 2:
To Be With Jesus Is To Learn From Jesus
“If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit” (John 15:5)
Whether we realize it or not, we all answer Jesus’s call in some way or another. Even no response, is a response. I first began to get a whisper from Christ in the days following a serious illness nearly 30 years ago. Through the weeks and months of treatment and recuperation, the call became more insistent. Sure, I had always believed Christ is who he says he is; I just didn’t live like it. All to say that I knew about Christ, as I did; and yet to follow Christ, as I had tried however imperfectly to do, were two different things entirely.
We can know Christ from a distance, but that is not what Jesus is asking of us. He wants us to closely follow Him, to learn from Him, to speak like Him, to think like Him, to live like Him. One cannot absorb Christ to the extent Christ desires from a distance. Jesus wants you and me to BE with Him and to learn from him.
As a Christ follower, our classroom is everyday life and we are conformed to Christ as we pray for the mind and heart of Jesus. Always. Everyday. All day. We pray, we worship, we engage in Christ's community. We read and meditate upon God’s sacred Word and as we do we begin to change. We begin to cultivate thankfulness. We grow to love those whose lives intersect with ours. We choose to serve rather than being served. We become more like Jesus.
The original disciples had the beautiful opportunity to physically be with Christ and learn from Jesus each day. Our beautiful opportunity is to be with Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and form our entire being. He helps us to become more like Christ day by day. This is what brings true satisfaction. This is our true identity in Christ alone.
For Reflection:
1. What have you been looking to for satisfaction and purpose?
2. What has been your journey with Jesus? Have you ever experienced a time where you chose like Philip to leave your life behind and follow Him?
3. What might the Holy Spirit be showing you to release your grip on so you can receive what he has to offer?
Day 3:
Making Jesus a Priority
For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be (Matthew 6:21)
One day, as I sat at a red light, I noticed the car in front of me had “Baseball is Life” on their bumper. Now I like baseball. A lot. However, baseball is not my life. Far from it. It's astounding how so many of us devote enormous amounts of time, thought, energy to a wide variety of pursuits that we hope will give us comfort, wealth, security or enjoyment on earth. And yet God is the only one who actually gives and sustains life. In this age where we have access to a remarkable amount of information and entertainment in our pockets, there is a tremendous competition for our mind and heart. What we value and how we spend our time shapes us.
When I was dating my wife, I wanted her to know how important she was to me. I gave her my utmost attention, and I wanted to know all about her. There was no other one for me. Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians “when Christ who is your life…” (Col.3:4). Now that would make for a good bumper sticker! It would also make for a better rule of life.
Making Christ the Center, is at the core of our discipleship. To become a disciple is not an “add on” to life, like a hobby. Christ is life could be our motto for discipleship. And whether it's baseball or Jesus Christ, one doesn’t center their lives on something without dedicated and intentional effort and desire. Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, ‘where your highest priorities and greatest desires are is where you will devote your highest attention and the majority of your resources’. Those are sobering words.
When “Christ is your life”, as Paul writes, Christ is your highest priority. You want to be with him, to know more about him, to be like him and to act like him. If Christ is your highest priority, you will structure your life, your time and your resources to reflect the ultimate importance of Jesus in it.
Considering these truths, I ask myself and I ask you the following challenging questions. Prayerfully consider them and talk with Jesus about your answers.
1. Is Jesus Chist my highest priority? Why or why not?
2. If Christ is my highest priority how is he reflected in the way I live my life?
3. How might I structure my life differently to give Christ a higher or the highest priority?