What It Means To Be A Disciple Of Jesus (Part #2)

Mark 3:13-19

“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.” (Mark 3:13-19)

You might not have thought about it this way, but did you know that Jesus was the original New Testament Life Group leader? I think it’s interesting that He began His ministry this way and through these twelve men He changed the world.

Jesus didn’t primarily conduct His ministry in “one on one” sessions with various individuals. Instead, He was constantly surrounded by this small group of men into whom He poured His life. What we learn from this example is that we grow best when we are in relationships with other believers, not in isolation from them. In our case, this is even more important because no one person has all the gifts of Christ. Consequently, apart from a small group, we potentially receive a distorted portrait of the One we seek to reflect.

Consider for a moment what we know about these twelve men.

• Simon – This is his Hebrew name. Jesus changed his name to “Peter.” He was the leader of the group and his name is always listed first. He was a fisherman with a family to support. He was outspoken and opinionated. He failed the Lord in a very public manner, but he humbled himself and was restored.

• James – He was a fisherman like his brother John. He was a member of the Lord’s inner circle. Peter, James and John were singled out for a special time of ministry three times: when the daughter of Jairus was raised from the dead (Mark 5:36-43); when Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:1-2); and when Jesus went a little further into Gethsemane to pray (Matthew 26:37). James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:2).

• John – He was the brother of James, also a member of Christ’s inner circle. John was known as the “Beloved Disciple.” John was the only Apostle not put to death for his faith, but he was persecuted, imprisoned and banished to a deserted island.

These two brothers (James & John) were nicknamed “Boanerges.” The name means “the sons of thunder.” This name fits because they possessed impetuous temperaments, even wanting to pray down fire on a village that refused to receive the Lord Jesus (Luke 9:52-56). They also possessed some selfish ambition, asking Jesus for a place of special prominence in the Kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).

• Andrew – He was the brother of Peter. He had been a fisherman before he came to Christ and every time he appears in the Gospel record, he is bringing someone to Jesus. Andrew was a powerful witness for the Lord Who saved him.

• Philip – Not much is known about him. Jesus calls him in John 1:43 and immediately he went to tell Nathaniel (Bartholomew) about Jesus (John 1:44-45).

• Bartholomew – He is also known as Nathaniel. He apparently had some deep-seated prejudice toward Nazareth (John 1:45-46). He was also a man of honesty and deep religious conviction (John 1:47).

• Matthew – He was also called Levi. He had been a tax collector for Rome and was a controversial choice that would have been despised by many (Mark 2:14). However, the Lord saved him, changed his life and called him to be His disciple.

• Thomas – There is a song about him that reminds us he was a doubter. We do know that he was loyal to Jesus, even to the point of being willing to die with Him  (John 11:16). He was the only disciple not cowering in fear in the upper room on the day Jesus rose from the dead (John 20:24). Though he doubted what he could not see, he was willing to accept the truth when it was revealed to him (John 20:28).

• James the son of Alphaeus – Very little is known about him. He was the son of Alphaeus and Mary, the sister of Jesus’ mother (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; Luke 24:10; John 19:25). He was called James the Less, either because he was younger that James the son of Zebedee or because of his short stature. By this identification it would mean that his mother was at the cross when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25).

• Thaddaeus – Nothing is known about this disciple, except that it is likely that the names Judas (not Iscariot) and Thaddaeus are dual names for the same person.

• Simon the Canaanite – The word for “Canaanite” literally means “zealous.” Simon was a revolutionary. He was a Jew sworn to overthrow the Roman government. He was probably idealistic, proud, radical, outspoken, fiery and fearless.

• Judas Iscariot – Judas was the only disciple to come from Judea. He was the treasurer of the group, but was a thief and a miser (John 12:5-6). He was never saved and eventually betrayed Jesus into the hands of the Jews for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16).

How did Jesus unify these men into a cohesive group that enabled them to carry out the work He would eventually intrust to them? He did it by unifying them around two common purposes in discipleship. These two common purposes are true for anyone desiring to follow Jesus as His disciple.

As we learned in the previous message from this passage, Jesus first called these men to spend time with Him, watching Him, listening to Him, and learning from Him. These men abandoned everything they knew as their everyday way of life to be “with Jesus” (Mark 3:14a).

Being “with Jesus,” though, is about more than physical proximity to Him. It is mostly about one’s spiritual proximity to Christ (i.e., Judas was physically close to Jesus, but spiritually he was separated from Him.) It is the attitude of heart that says, “I want to learn about Jesus, know His ways, and hear His teachings that I might faithfully follow Him.” It’s the desire to submit to Him above all else and all others so as to allow Him to pour His life into yours. Until this purpose is realized, nothing else really makes much sense.

The second purpose around which Jesus unified these men grew out of the first purpose.

Having spent TIME with Jesus they were also assigned the TASK of going “out to preach” (3:14b) about Jesus and His Kingdom. This additional purpose finds its partial fulfillment in Mark 6:7-13 and it’s broader fulfillment in the Acts of the Apostles.

Look again at what Jesus says is necessary to be His disciple. In addition to spending time with Him, you must also be willing to be SENT by Him. The task of a disciple is to go wherever Christ sends him/her.

The Greek word used here for “send” (Mark 3:14b) is the word for “apostle,” but he’s not using it in the sense of their official title. In this context it simply means, “to cause someone to depart for a particular purpose—‘to send.’” (15.66)  

Luke uses this same Greek word in the book of Acts, referring to those that travelled with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch with a letter from the Jerusalem church. He writes, “...it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch…” (Acts 15:22). Paul uses this same word when sending Timothy to care for the Philippians. He writes, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.” (Philippians 2:19) And, he also uses it in reference to Christ commissioning him. “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

In other words, a disciple of Christ is one that is willing to go wherever and whenever Christ sends him/her. They make themselves available to be instruments in His hands to bring Good News to those that “sit in darkness” (Luke 1:79).

On one occasion Jesus dealt with some that were called to be His disciples, but as far as we know, failed to make the commitment. It’s not until you get beyond the initial call Christ’s gives to them that the deeper issues holding them back begin to emerge.

“Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62)

Christ isn’t looking for excuses! He’s looking for people that won’t delay their obedience to Him. He is looking for those that are willing to immediately abandon their will to His will. A disciple is one that is available to be sent by Him, especially as it concerns the mission of spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ.

This doesn’t mean that He’ll call all of us to leave our present locality to travel to another part of the world to live as international missionaries. But, it does mean that we must be willing to do so, if He sends us there.

Just as importantly, it means we should be willing to leave our living rooms and love our friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to Christ. It means that we will not be ashamed of Him and will represent Him as His Ambassadors everywhere we go. Think about this incredible privilege...we are commissioned to be Christ’s Ambassadors (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:20) in the place where we presently live, as well as anywhere else He may send us.

Notice also that He sends His disciples for a very specific purpose and that is to “preach” (Mark 3:14b). There is a sense in which all of us are called to be “preachers” for Christ, proclaiming His person and plan for redeeming mankind to the Father.

The Greek word means literally, “to publicly announce religious truths and principles while urging acceptance and compliance—‘to preach.’” (33.256) It is not enough for us to quietly live out our faith before a sinful world. We must lift up our voices to proclaim our faith and seek to convince men/women to come to Christ for eternal life.

The book of Romans uses this same Greek word to show the importance of announcing the Good News. Paul writes, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14) Peter used this same word in reference to Christ. He writes, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison…” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Aren’t you thankful that someone announced to you that Jesus saves? Apart from “hearing” (with your heart) this important Good News, you would have been separated from Christ forever without hope!

Another way to describe this aspect (“preaching”) of being a disciple is the one used by Jesus just before He ascended back to Heaven following His resurrection. He told His disciples, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Witnesses are not supposed to keep silent about what they have seen. They have to tell their story so others can know the truth. They speak up and declare what Christ has done for them!

So, to be a devoted disciple of Jesus means we are ready to be sent by Him wherever He desires us to go so we may speak the Good News about Him to those that need eternal hope.

While it is possible to be saved from your sins and the possessor of eternal life without being a verbal witness (i.e., a “preacher” of the Gospel) to others, it is not possible to be a devoted disciple walking in obedience to Him, if you are not announcing the Good News to others.  

That’s what the Great Commission is all about (cf. Matthew 28:19-20). We are to make disciples that obey all He said, which would include proclaiming the Gospel to others. This is not something you can pay another person to do for you. This is the task of everyone that would be Christ’s disciple. There are many different methods disciples may use to proclaim the Gospel, but all disciples are involved in this great task.

There’s one final thought in this passage about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and it concerns the “power” by which a disciple will be able to “preach” where Christ sends him/her. His promise is that along with being sent out by Him that He will also give him the  “power” he  needs for the task he is given.

Obviously, the ability to “heal sickness” and “cast out demons” associated these twelve with Jesus and the power He demonstrated in the first century. Works of this nature are spoken of in 2 Corinthians 12:12 as being the “signs of an apostle” and were for the purpose of authenticating the message before the completion of the biblical canon. God is still sovereign over healing and demons today, but the power given to us now has more to do with “boldness” than miraculous signs.

The Greek word for “power” used in Mark 3:15 literally means, “the power to do something, with or without an added implication of authority.” However, in Mark 3:15 the Greek-English Lexicon of the New testament says that “power” in this context also includes the idea of  “authority.”

In other words, Christ is giving to these twelve men, and to all of us as disciples of Christ, the power AND authority to “preach” in His name. This distinct bestowment of “power” is borne out in the book of Acts when the Apostles, Paul and others disseminate the message of the Gospel with Spirit-empowered authority and boldness.

Just look at the number of times the idea of boldness in speaking is found in Luke’s account of the early church. He uses the noun form of the Greek word for “boldness” five times and the verb form is used seven times.

A distinctive trademark of the early disciples was their boldness with which the message of the Gospel was proclaimed. “Boldness” does not indicate brashness, harshness or tactlessness. Rather, it implies clarity in the face of fear. This is a distinctive of any person that is spending time with Jesus and understands that he/she is a representative of Christ to others.

“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.” (Acts 4:13)

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” (Acts 9:27-28)

“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46)

“And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8)

(cf. Acts 2:29; 4:29; 14:3; 18:26; 26:26; 28:31)

Jesus was able to take this disparate group of men and mold them into the most effective missionaries the world has ever known. As instruments in God’s hand, the movement of Christ spread around the world so that untold millions have found hope in the person of Jesus Christ alone.

Two things characterize all disciples of Jesus: 1. They spend time with Him, allowing Him to pour His life into them. 2. They go and proclaim Him to others that those who hear might have a relationship with Jesus, as well. If these two things aren’t happening in our lives...we aren’t functioning as His disciples.

Closing:

Let me offer some practical suggestions to get you started in being a witness for Jesus.

1. Keep a list of people that need Christ and regularly remember them in prayer. There is nothing like praying that will sensitize your heart to the spiritual condition of people and increase your burden for their souls.

2. Watch attentively for opportunities to speak to people about their need of Christ. Various life events open people’s hearts to hear the Gospel and are the passageway God intends us to use to share His love.

3. Learn to tell your story about how you came to Christ and share it as frequently as possible with others.

4. Love people and be friendly with those that need to know Christ. While we are NOT to love this world, we are to live in this world as Christ’s representatives. Model the life of Jesus and make friends with people that need to know Him. Just don’t participate in their sins while you are trying to show them the way out of their sins.

5. Sow the seed of the Gospel as frequently and freely as possible. Yes, some of it will fall on hard ground, other of it will fall on shallow ground, and still other of it will fall on thorn-infested ground. But, when the seed touches the receptive ground of a person’s heart, there is fruitfulness and joy that result. It’s not our job to save the lost, it’s our job to sow the seed.

What It Means To Be A Disciple Of Jesus (Part #1)

Mark 3:13-19

When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He did so for two primary purposes. The first was a relational one and the second a missional one. In this message we will explore the first of these two purposes and it’s importance to our being devoted followers of Jesus.

And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. (Mark 3:13-19)

“That” or literally, “in order that,” introduces two subordinate clauses stating the intention of the main verb, “appointed.” Jesus’ intention was that these twelve men would live in relationship with Him on a daily basis and that they would ultimately be sent out to represent Him.

These two purposes are not solely for a select group of elite followers of Jesus, but the call placed upon every believer in Christ. That is evidenced by the fact that the official title for these men, “apostles” (Mark 6:30), only occurs once in Mark’s gospel, whereas the more general word “disciple(s)” occurs 45 times, along with other expressions for His followers (Mark 3:34; 4:10; 10:32; 11:9). In other words, Mark didn’t concern himself with their “official” role as much as he did with their representative role. These two purposes apply to everyone that would be a disciple of Christ!

What was it that Jesus desired from these men when He said He wanted them to be “with Him”?

In essence, He was calling them to spend time “with Him” listening to Him teach, seeing Him perform miracles, and watching how He lived out His life on a daily basis. This matter of being with Christ is a foundational element of what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ.

Interestingly, these twelve men called to be with Christ were all fairly young when they answer the call. In the book, The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ, James E. Stewart says, “Unfortunately, it is a fact which Christian art and Christian preaching have too often obscured...Christianity entered the world as a young people’s movement. Most of the apostles were probably still in their twenties when they went out after Jesus...And no one ever realized more clearly than Jesus did that the adolescent years of life, when strange dormant thoughts are stirring and the whole world begins to unfold, are God’s best chance with the soul...When we study the story of the first Twelve...We see them following their leader out into the unknown, not knowing very clearly who he is or why they are doing it or where he is likely to lead them; but just magnetized by him, fascinated and gripped and held by something irresistible in the soul of him, laughed at by friends, plotted against by foes, with doubts sometimes growing clamorous in their own hearts, until they almost wished they were well out of the whole business; but still clinging to him, coming through the ruin of their hopes to a better loyalty and earning triumphantly at last the great name...’The glorious company of the apostles.’ It is worth watching them, for we too may catch the infection of their spirit and fall into step with Jesus.”

This youthful band of men present to us a fundamental truth we all need to grasp: whether you are young or old, Jesus is calling you to “be with Him” in fellowship and communion, learning about Him and growing in closeness to Him. He wants you to know Him in the intimacy of a relationship that is lived out daily. This is the basic essence of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

• Before we can preach about Him effectively, we must fellowship with Him personally.
• Discipleship is about a relationship before it is about a task that we do.

If we fail to realize this basic fact, then we may well spend our entire lives believing we are His disciples, measured by what we do, without truly being His disciples. It is this ever-growing communion with Christ that underlies all of the other instructions He will give these men about discipleship. Without this passionate pursuit of Christ Himself, you and I will never be ready to make the other sacrifices necessary to fulfill our greatest purpose in life.

• Doing honorable things for Christ is not the same as spending time with Christ.
• You might be a visionary Christian leader, but if you don’t have a vital relationship with Jesus...it doesn’t matter.
• Helping others understand the gospel is not the same thing as drinking deeply from the wellspring of His grace personally.

Jesus was issuing a call to these disciples (and to all of us) that meant He wanted them to give their lives to Him. They were to leave other things behind to travel with Him so they could observe His life both publicly and privately. They were on the inside of seeing His miracles and hearing His discourses. They were treated as members of His family and trained by Him for the great work that was ahead of them.

But, let’s be certain we understand that this is about more than just being in close in proximity to Him. This is about making Him and His pursuits their life mission, as well as giving Him their ultimate loyalty. They were being called to abandon their own agenda and adopt His.

Being “with Jesus” also had consequences that took on even greater significance as His mission encountered ever-increasing opposition. It finally reached its apex during the passion week when all His disciples forsook Him and fled. Having been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was taken away to unjust trials and ultimately His crucifixion. Peter stayed close enough to watch some of the initial proceedings. When he was recognized, which ultimately brought his threefold denial, it was precisely because he was now identified as having been with Jesus. When you’ve been communing with Jesus it always shows.

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” (Mark 14:66-67)  

Our spiritual passion must be to spend time “with Jesus” so that we, too, are unmistakably identified with Him by others. Followers of Jesus aren’t supposed to “blend in;” they are supposed to “stand out.”

An illustration of the idea of being “with Jesus” is found in the story of Jesus coming to Bethany and being invited to a meal with Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Of course, when guests are coming to your house you want everything to be perfect, especially when that guest is the Rabbi you deeply revere. Unfortunately, Martha was so distracted trying to make sure everything was just right that she missed valuing the opportunity of being “with Jesus.”

There is a little word in Luke 10:39 that is often overlooked and isn’t even translated in some modern translations, but it changes the entire meaning of these unfolding events.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Notice carefully that it says Mary “also sat at Jesus’ feet.” It wasn’t that Mary was negligent in helping her sister prepare for the Guest that was visiting with them. What this points out is that Mary understood that being “with Jesus” was more important than anything else she could be doing “for Jesus.” Mary understood that Jesus’ presence in their house was the most important matter at that moment. Other things could come later, but being “with Jesus” took priority over everything else.

How much better is it for us as followers of Jesus to learn that time spent with Christ is the most important time we spend on a daily basis. We weren’t called just to be His workhorses, dutifully churning out tasks and deeds assigned to us. We were called to spend time in His presence, becoming personally acquainted with Him. He wants us to be with Him that we might know Him in His glory and grace. This is the greatest privilege afforded to all of His children!

These twelve men enjoyed a front row seat that enabled them to see and hear the words and works of Jesus Christ. Generations before them had witnessed remarkable things. Some had seen the wonders of God in the Exodus, as well as the giving of the Law. Others experienced the miracles of Elijah and Elisha. Still others heard God’s wonderful oracles spoken by the ancient sages of Israel. But, none had been so privileged as these men to be “with” the One that was greater than all the prophets and sages of old. The words and works of Jesus exceeded all those that had gone before Him. To be “with Him” was to be with the One that spoke the world into existence and on Whom the heavens had been opened for the angels to ascend and descend while ministering to Him.

And, these men were deeply affected by their time with Jesus. John writes about it in his first epistle.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:1-4)

Their time spent with Jesus was indispensable to their bearing witnesses for Jesus. The testimony of these men had credence primarily because they had spent time “with Him.” No one would have believed their report as quickly except for the fact that these men had been with Jesus.

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. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. (Acts 4:13-14)

What preceded their witness and work for Christ was their daily walk with Him. They were indelibly marked by their time spent in His presence. And, people noticed the difference that being with Jesus made in them. It changed them forever!

On one occasion during Jesus’ ministry He took Peter, James and John to a mountain top where He was transfigured in their presence. For a few brief moments they saw a measure of His true glory shining through the exterior of His humanity. Appearing there on that mountain with Jesus was Moses and Elijah. It was an experience unlike anything anyone had ever had before. In Peter’s typical fashion, he apparently felt he needed to speak, so he suggested that they build three tabernacles...one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. In that moment God the Father spoke from Heaven and said, ““This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5)

That’s the essence of what Jesus meant when He called these disciples to be “with Him.” They were to become so closely associated with Him that they could “hear Him” and became like Him. This principle of association with Christ was for the sake of the disciples’ personal and spiritual transformation. And, it is the very foundation of what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

An incredible privilege is afforded each of us that we must not squander or fail to share. We are invited into the very presence of Jesus Christ to be “with Him” and get to know Him. James put it this way. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... (James 4:8)

The truth is...we are as close to God as we want to be! He’s already shown His love for us on Calvary, it’s our move now!

In his book, Enjoying Intimacy with God, J. Oswald Sanders makes a piercing observation. He writes, "We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be. True, there are times when we would like to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes to the point, we are not prepared to pay the price involved."

A. W. Tozer was a pastor in the city of Chicago for many years and a prophetic voice to the twentieth-century church. On one occasion when a new minister arrived in town, Tozer called him and described the difficulty and spiritual warfare involved in pastoring is such a city. He said, “If you ever want to pray with me, I’m at the lakeside every morning at five-thirty. Just make your way down and we can pray together.” A day came when the other minister was troubled in his soul. He made his way to the lakeside at about six o’clock. There he found Tozer prostrate in the sand worshiping God. A. W. Tozer affected so many publicly through his preaching because he was serious about his private intimacy with God. (Sammy Tippit, The Prayer Factor [Chicago: Moody Press, 1988])

In today’s society too many of us say we are followers of Jesus but are more like Martha than Mary. The only time we give heed to His voice is when we find ourselves in the deep waters of life’s troubles. We are sadly distracted by many good things that keep us from doing what ought to be the main thing. Discipleship is first and foremost about being “with” Jesus so that we can know Him and be changed by Him.

Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…

No one will ever be “with Him” unless the following are true.

1. We have to intentionally choose to pursue God. A deep communion with Him doesn’t just happen to us.
2. We have to minimize distractions that move our focus away from Him. God is pleased when we simplify our lives.
3. We have to discipline ourselves to consistently be “with Him.” That moment you miss with God may well be the moment you would have heard His voice most clearly.

A minister told about an ancient Scottish legend in which a poor boy was tending some sheep on a mountain side when he saw at his feet a beautiful flower. It was so beautiful that he could not resist picking it… and as he did he heard a loud sound. Looking up he saw the mountain before him opening up, revealing a cavern filled with precious gems and metals. He walked into the cavern, laid down the flower and began gathering all the gold, silver, and precious gems he could carry. When he could carry no more he heard a voice as he turned to leave that said, “Don’t forget the best.” So he turned again and gathered even more stuff into his arms. As he left the cavern the mountainside closed behind him and all that he carried instantaneously turned to dust. Again the voice spoke and said, “You forgot the best. For the flower is the key to the vault of the mountain.” (Rev. Adrian Dielman, Pastor of Trinity Christian Reformed Church, Visalia, CA, “Hosts and Guests”, July 8, 2001)

Don’t forget that Jesus is sometimes called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley. In the process of pursuing all of the good things God makes available to us in this life, don’t forget to pursue the “best” thing. You and I are invited to be “with” Christ, not only in right relationship to Him, but in deep communion and fellowship with Him. Disciples desire to be with Jesus more than they desire anything else in life!