Lean In To Jesus

Jesus didn’t just die for you; He wants to live with you.

Discipleship is the process of following Jesus to become more like Him. Spend time with Him. Watch Him closely. Lean in. Spend your life getting to know the King.

Jesus’ disciples are willing to follow him anywhere with joy. But that’s the challenge isn’t it? Deciding to follow Jesus is one thing. But how do you keep walking with Him when it’s hard, when it hurts, when it doesn’t feel like God’s plan at all? How do you stay close to Jesus when the circumstances just make you want to run away and hide?

When you commit, anytime, anywhere, at any cost, to do anything, you don’t just end up with the promise of the kingdom, you end up with the King. He didn’t just die for you; He wants to live with you. When it feels scary and uncertain, when you’re not sure where Jesus is leading you, get closer to Him. 

Jesus is always for you; he’s always leading you, always loving you. He is there to guide and correct, to encourage and empower you. If it feels like God is condemning you, take a closer look at that voice. God does correct us, but He always offers us a way forward. Sometimes it's hard to recognize which voice is God's. 

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14)

When you don’t have the strength, the energy, the grace or the love to do what He’s asking you to do, rely on the Holy Spirit. Invite Him into your circumstances. Discipleship is the process of following Jesus to become more like Him. Spend time with Him. Watch Him closely. Lean in. Spend your life getting to know the king. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

 

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (John 15:16)

Whatever you ask the Father — in Christ’s name — it will be given unto you.

This is the method by which God supports Jesus’ disciples. 

Christ gives more specifics in Matthew 6:26-33:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:26-33)

Within these verses, we find three powerful truths:

1. God is powerful to provide – He provides for the fowls of the air. Surely he can provide for us. He shares his beauty with the lilies. Surely he can give us that. He clothes the grass. Surely he can clothe us.

2.We are dependent on God – As the verse says, we cannot ‘think’ and automatically add ‘one cubit unto’ our stature. We have to work using our God given energy, breath and bodies to do anything significant. Therefore, even if we think we are independent, we still borrow our breath, bodies and capacity for movement from God. We are wholly dependent on him for just these gifts!

As we begin to recognize our dependence on God, will become teachable, obedient and forgiving. We recognize this easier when we feel vulnerable. Wealth and security–however–can give a false impression of independence.  If we start to feel independent, let us remember this one fact: We still come from dust, and that is where our bodies will eventually go. We are nothing without God.

3.He will bless his servants – As we learn to be dependent on Him, we pray more. We may even plead with God. Then, we feel the spirit more. We follow his counsel through the second comforter, the Holy Ghost. We are blessed with humility to follow God’s will. Our faith increases bit by bit, as a mustard seed grows.

These are some of the fruits talked about in John 15:16. As we go about his service, we can ask for anything and fully expect to receive. This is because our motives are aligned with God’s motives. This came about by yielding our hearts to him in part because we recognize our dependence on him.

Lastly, we must be careful not to ask in selfishness as warned in: 

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) 


As Christians, we are to reflect Christ, and one of the things that God emphasizes about Himself more than anything is that He is a God who keeps His promises. And don’t think that it was easy for Christ to keep His promise because He knew what it would cost Him. 

Remember the drops of blood in the garden? Remember that carrying through in a commitment that had unforeseen challenges in it demonstrates your trust in God seeing you through these challenges. There are times to apologize and admit your failure when you committed to something unhealthy or damaging in some way. 

However, we need to consider the beauty of Christ’s faithfulness in keeping His promises, what it would have meant for us if He backed out because it became too hard, and seek to follow in His footsteps.

After all, isn’t that what a disciple does?

The Lord is calling you to begin a deeper relationship with Him.

Today's Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being 100% faithful in all of Your promises, so that we can trust all Your breathtaking promises for the future. Please help us to image You in our commitments to each other, whether big or small. Lord, I want to be a true disciple. Help me live with You every day. Amen.