Luke 9:10-11
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read Luke 9:10-11 paying attention to any thoughts that come to mind as you read.
Jesus’ relationship with his disciples is not transactional. It’s an intimate relationship in which Jesus is loving and enjoying his followers while equipping and shaping them. When the twelve return from their first mission they are of course eager to share everything that happened, and Jesus is eager to hear. He relishes his time with them so much that he invites them to slip away and be alone with him for a while.
This is the kind of relationship Jesus wants with you as well. It’s not all about what you do for Jesus; it’s about being with him and sharing your life with him while he shapes and equips you to live the life for which you were created.
Think back to your day yesterday. At what points during the day were you aware of Jesus’ presence with you? What was happening when you were aware?
At what points during the day yesterday did you forget about Jesus’ presence with you? What were the circumstances that distracted you from Jesus?
These questions are a simplified version of the practice of “examen” which is a powerful way of increasing your awareness of Jesus’ presence. You might consider engaging with Jesus using this practice at the end of each day or the end of each week.
Read Luke 9:10-11 again.
Jesus loves his disciples, but his love is not exclusive. When the crowds press in, he welcomes them and shares the Good News with them through his teaching and healing ministry. The King has come, and he is more than happy to welcome anyone who is seeking him into his presence.
Your relationship with Jesus is not just an individual relationship. Jesus loves you and wants to spend time with you, but Jesus also wants to love the world through you. Without spending time alone with Jesus, we are unlikely to be aware of his presence and even more unlikely to spread his love to the people around us. But as we grow closer to him, we must also remember that we are his ambassadors – his emissaries who take the Good News to a broken, hurting world.
Take a moment to meditate on the balance between being alone with Jesus and being his representative to the people around you. Share your thoughts and feelings about this with Jesus being sure to listen as much as you speak.
What is Jesus saying to you today?
What will you do about that?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
