Discipleship Devotional: Week One – Day Five

What does the practice of ‘Being with Jesus’ look like? The principle and practice of being with Jesus is as ancient as scripture itself. We know that ‘Being with Jesus’ will look different for each of us. However, we’ll assume that prayer and Bible reading sit at the very foundation of it for you. Rather than focusing on the foundations, over the next two days, we're going to present some other concepts that, when implemented, will enhance your experience of ‘Being with Jesus’.

Make a Radical Decision

A unique group of people called the ‘Desert Fathers' lived at a time when the church had grown shallow and indistinct from the prevailing culture. It was a movement that started in AD 270, where Christian men and women left their cities and villages to live a holy life by separating themselves from the worldly culture that had infiltrated much of the church. One of these men was Arsenius, who grew up in a wealthy Christian family. As a highly educated Roman senator, he was chosen by Emperor Theodosius to be a tutor for his children. However, after 11 years of living a lavish life in the palace, Arsenius longed for something different. When praying for guidance, Arsenius said, “Lord, show me the way to be saved.” In response, he heard the voice say, “Arsenius, flee from people and you shall be saved.” He fled the palace and moved to the deserts of Egypt. Having withdrawn to the solitary life, he prayed the same prayer again and heard the voice saying to him, ‘Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the source of sinlessness.’ Once again, Arsenius did what he was told. That was his radical decision (summarised from 'Emotionally Healthy Discipleship' by Peter Scazzero).

Of course, we're not suggesting that we all sell up and move to the desert! However, the drastic nature of the decision we must make is similar in that it requires making a clean and total break from our present cultures, systems, and habits.

Be honest before God

To ‘Be with Jesus’ puts a demand on us to live a greater level of honesty before Him and others. How comfortable are you with expressing your feelings to God? How often do you look at such things as your competitive desires, worst thoughts, and inner rages? More often than not, our capacity to evaluate and present our inner world to God and trusted others is determined by our family upbringing and past experiences. Were you encouraged to discuss, wrestle with, and grow through the emotions and feelings throughout life’s challenges? Or were you encouraged to avoid them because they’re too painful and messy to process? Were you confronted with experiences that caused you to close off from ‘feeling’?

Evagrius of Pontus, another Desert Father, stated, “You want to know God? First, know yourself.” In other words, the pathway to God inevitably passes through self-knowledge. This was so beautifully demonstrated in scripture by many Biblical characters who regularly expressed their frustration, anger, love, brokenness, extreme joy, and every other emotion and feeling to God. David was so raw with many emotions throughout the Psalms, Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, Job ranted about his losses, and Moses didn’t hold back on expressing his anguish in the wilderness.

Can their examples be applied to us in the 21st century? What would happen if you were to ask yourself questions like the ones below on a regular basis and have a conversation with God about them?

• How can I change my lifestyle so that I live out of a 'desert heart'?
• Why did I feel so uncomfortable in that conversation today?
• Why was I angry that he never asked for my perspective?
• What was the anxiety about when I saw that person?
• Why am I always in such a hurry? Is there an underlying need in me for recognition or significance that can be found in Jesus?
• Why can’t I sit at the lights in the car or stand in line at the supermarket without picking up my phone?
• Why did I tell her I was ok, when really, I wasn’t?

The degree to which you are still and honest before God and trusted others is the degree to which you can live in greater freedom and truth and enjoy the experience of ‘being with Him.'

Application

• What radical decision do you need to make to your lifestyle so that your priority is first to BE before you DO?
• Are you comfortable with expressing your true feelings to God on a regular basis? If not, take five minutes today and tell Him everything you're thinking and feeling.

Prayer

Lord, please show me if there are things that I am addicted to that are keeping me from the most important thing of being with you.

I choose to make a radical decision to break from those habits that are not helpful in my pursuit of you.

Please help me to be honest with you at all times. I thank you that you know all and see all, and I invite you to peel back any layers to expose and heal those parts that are not currently surrendered to you.

You could also pray:

• For the Holy Spirit to illuminate scriptures that will shift your thinking.
• For courage to be radical for Jesus!
• For the current Discipleship Groups within LIFE to have a greater desire to learn how to ‘Be with Jesus’.
• For greater courage to be 100% honest with at least one person in your life.

Helpful Readings

Scripture:

Mark 6:30-32

'The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So, they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.'

Ephesians 4:22-24

'You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.'

Podcasts:

'Living in the Desert Without Leaving Your Life' by Peter Scazzero

'Lead Out of Weakness and Vulnerability' by Peter Scazzero