Have you been with Jesus?

Have you been with Jesus?

 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

–Acts4:13

What makes a true disciple? A disciple is one who follows a teacher, learns to be and eventually becomes like such a teacher. Discipleship goes beyond tutelage; it is copying the lifestyle, behavior and reactions of a discipler, in fact, discipleship could mean going further to becoming a replica of the master. This was what happened to the disciples of Jesus. Obviously, the years they spent with Jesus did transform them. Peter and John were ‘unlearned’ and ‘ignorant’ men, but there was a force that differentiated them from what others like them could have been called – they have lived with a master, and the master with them.

It is one thing to pass through a man or a process and the object not pass through the subject. Many today only pass though the structures of schools and churches, they are neither schooled nor transformed, as the case may be. Being with Jesus is not enough until you have allowed Him to be with you, to really teach you. Have you noticed how easy it is to read the books of the bible as a story book without the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and just read a verse and be filled with a word the day? An inscription goes “when you read, you know, when you meditate, you have”. This is an undisputable fact; the time we spend just glancing over and swallowing the word of God cannot make up for the time we should use to peruse and digest it.

Why should we be with Jesus? I Samuel 17 narrates how David defeated Goliath, a giant, II Samuel 21:18-22 shows that the people with him became giant killers, too. What is this telling us? Christ did not come to raise cowards, nor people with blemish, not naïve, unlearned or ignorant folks. The bible records His intentions for us as His disciples. When you wine and dine with the glorious son of God, He transforms you to be like His father; that is why Psalms 82:6 says, ‘ye are gods’.

Beloved, have you been with Jesus? You cannot be like Him if you have not had a personal time with Him. The greater works you strive so hard to do can only be learnt from He who has said you would do it. Exploits are not difficult if you spend time in His presence. The bible brings you into the full realization of who you are and who you can be when you fellowship with the master. Answer this question; have you been with Jesus?

Talk to God: Father, teach me to calmly fellowship daily with you in Jesus’ name, amen.