Good morning Jesus, I begin this morning centering my day around you.
“Now Jesus went up the mountain and called for those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he named apostles), so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. He appointed twelve: To Simon he gave the name Peter; to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, “sons of thunder”); and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Mark 6:13-19)
Jesus called twelve people to be follow him, to be his disciples, to be members of his “church.” What was the first and most important thing Jesus required of them? To spend time with him. At the core of being a disciple, at being a follower of Jesus is the necessity of spending time with Jesus and developing a deep relationship with Him.
Jesus’ call of his disciples reveals three things. First, Jesus “called those he wanted” (v.13). Jesus’ wanted and desired a close, personal friendship with his followers. Jesus did not call them as a marketing plan or to hire workers. He did not call them with a “human resource model” of getting them to sign up to be greeters, ushers, childcare workers…and the list goes on. He simply wanted to spend time with them. Second, “they came to him.” (v.13) The disciples attraction was simply Jesus. It was not a program, building, or ministry. It was not because their spouse made them or out of guilt, shame or tradition. They came and desired to spend time with Jesus. Third, “So that they could be with him.” Though whole point of Jesus calling those to follow him was so so that they could be with him. Yes, he wanted to “send them out to preach and cast out demons” however all authority and power for them to be able to do this has its source and is only possible from a deep abiding relationship with Jesus.
What is the whole goal and purpose of your being a follower of Jesus? Why did Jesus save you, redeem you, and call you to follow him? To spend time with him. At the core of Jesus calling of you is his desires to personally and intimately spend time with you. At the core of your Christian walk needs to be a desire to personally and intimately block off time to spend with Jesus. I have found as a Christian leader that if I do a service project of some sort people willingly show to serve and work even though the tasks may be difficult and outside in hot or cold conditions. I have found that people willingly get up on Sunday mornings when they could sleep in, get dressed, get kids ready, get in their cars and drive to a church to attend a service. However, I have found that getting people to spend time daily with Jesus: to sit comfortably on a couch in their pajamas with a cup of coffee or tea in their own home and read the Bible and prayer, to simply be with Jesus, is a struggle for them.
Yet “doing” things: attending church services and programs, serving in a church or in a ministry, doing serviced ministry projects, and teaching or leading a church event is not at the core of Jesus call of you, and just as “DOING” things was not at the core of the first group he called to follow Him. It is “BEING” with Him. You must first desire to be with Jesus before you can go out and do things for Jesus. The great commandment, to love God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Mark 12:30) comes before and is a pre-requisite to fulfilling the great commission, “Go and make disciples.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
There is nothing myself or any other leader can do to get you to desire to spend time with Jesus. As much as Jesus desires to be with you, he can’t make you spend time daily with Him in Scriptures and prayer. All he can do is call out to you, and expectantly await your response.
My family, I pray today as you begin your work-week, you will come to realize that you salvation and your call to follow Jesus is not centered on “doing” things for Jesus, but “being” with Jesus. May you desire to be with the one who desires to be with you, Jesus Christ. Please pray the same for me! God bless you my friends!
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