Life-On-Life

When I was in college, an older brother would often take me out to eat.

We wouldn’t talk about anything in particular, but just about how life was going. I’m sure he gave me words of wisdom and real talk about life, but to be honest, I don’t remember anything he said, and I don’t even remember what we ate. What I do remember was his desire to be in proximity to me.

I just knew this guy was busy with work, but he took the time to be with me. He took an interest in what I was thinking, feeling, and doing in life. I would even say his example motivated me to do the same with others until this day. I later understood this was his way of discipling me.

This life-on-life discipleship is nothing new. It is the way Jesus discipled when He was on earth.

Mark 3:14 says:

Jesus chose twelve and called them apostles. He wanted them to be with him, and he wanted to send them out to preach.

It delighted Jesus for His disciples to want to be with Him. The relationship mattered. Doing life together mattered. Not only that, verse 14 says, Jesus wanted to send them out to preach. He desired them to have a purpose. His relationship and life-on-life had a direction.

So, we see the way Jesus discipled was through proximity and opportunity. He was close to them and provided them opportunities to be on a mission with Him. How cool is that!?

Friends, Jesus wants to have a life with you. He wants to know how you feel, think, and live.

He wants to understand you so that He can uniquely send you out on a mission only you can fulfill. Discipleship is not only about what you can do, but more about who you are becoming. Jesus wants you to spend time with Him to become more like Him.

If you ever said, “I don’t know my purpose and calling in life. God, what do you want me to do?” Then the first baby step is to be with Christ. So do life-on-life with Him. Get to know Him. How? The Bible is the way to learn how Jesus feels, thinks, and lives. The more we read, the more we will understand His heart. The more we get Him, the more we will know His purpose for us.

This life-on-life discipleship is not a new method or program, but an old thing with new people in a new season. How is your life-on-life with Jesus today? Who are you doing life-on-life with?

Pray about it, and I believe God will use you to change the world one person at a time! Amen!

Pastor Sean

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