11/01/2023
Mark 3:14-15 NKJV
Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, [15] and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Acts 4:13 NKJV
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Isn’t it instructive that when Jesus decided to choose disciples, he choose them to BE WITH HIM. He did not choose them to instruct them or teach them on what to do or what not to do, even though as they were with Him, he did teach them.
He did not choose them to go and heal the world and preach to lost souls, even though while they were with Him he did send them to heal and preach.
He did not choose them so they could pray all night with him and hold powerful prayer meetings, even though while they were with Him they did have night vigils and prayed a lot.
The Bible clearly states that Jesus chose them to BE WITH HIM. It was as they were with Him that they began to experience conversion, internal change and transformation as they became more and more like Jesus in character, in mindset, in the core of their being. And so it was, as they became more and more like Jesus, they acted and performed more and more like Jesus - did good like him, healed like him, preached like him, prayed like him!
No wonder years ago, the Lord made me realize that “discipleship” is not just about teaching people what to do or not to do - the dos and donts of Jesus. Discipleship is Oti about training people on how to BE WITH Jesus so that they can BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS, and as a result LIVE LIKE JESUS!
This was what happened to these ordinary men who were with Jesus - years later the Pharisees and Sanhedrin took notice that it was not their knowledge or experience or exposure that made a difference. It was the fact that they had “been Jesus”!
Can this be our primary goal and focus as we enter the penultimate month of 2023. Beyond the prophetic declarations, beyond shouts of thanksgiving, beyond the prayers for the incoming year - make sure that before these next 8 weeks are over, you have picked up the practice / lifestyle of “BEING WITH JESUS”.
Jesus has come as Immanuel - the God who is with you. The question therefore is not whether or not God is with you because He is.
The question is will you learn to BE WITH HIM?
Shalom!
[As you contemplate on the Presence of the Lord, may you experience “being with Jesus” listening to this worship chant in Lingala by Daniel Lubams:
https://youtu.be/dLR6VlsykkE?si=eVQL6AXSkRChB0Mg]