Being With Jesus

A Rule of Life

Welcome to part two of our discipleship mini-series. If you haven’t read or listened to the last episode, Apprentices and Trellises, it would be best to go back and start there. I’ll see you in a mo if that’s where you’re off to.

As a reminder of the last episode. 

Back in the first century, for the young men who were knowledgeable enough to be chosen as a disciple of a Rabbi, their whole lives changed. And their one task became to organise their lives around three goals - to be with their Rabbi, to become like their Rabbi, to do as their Rabbi did. With the idea that one day they’d hear the words, “I give you my blessing, go and make disciples.” which meant they could become Rabbis themselves.

This is the same kind of discipleship we’re invited into as well. It might have been thousands of years ago, but the pattern is still worth following. We often talk about spiritual formation or spiritual disciplines. Being an apprentice or a disciple of a rabbi was spiritual formation in action. We’re all being formed by something, the question is, do we know what it is? And are we happy with it? Discipleship was more obvious back then, for us it just takes a bit more intentionality and self-awareness.

And so this week we’re looking at the first goal: to be with Jesus. Which links nicely to 3 spiritual disciplines that may show up in your rule of life. Remember a rule of life is a set of rhythms and practices that support our spiritual growth and keep us connected to Jesus. Those three disciplines or practices are sabbath, solitude, and prayer.

What Does It Mean to Be With Jesus?

Right so let’s look at being with Jesus. I’ll start with a question: if you could choose between having Jesus physically walk beside you or having the Holy Spirit inside you, which would you pick? 

There have been loads of times where I’ve been in a pickle and found myself saying, “if only Jesus was sitting next to me.” I could chat to Him and hear his wisdom and sort everything out. 

Maybe you’ve had similar moments but here’s the thing: during those moments my focus is on the wrong thing. I want to go to Jesus, get his advice, and then sort it out myself. This kind of responsibility and spiritual autonomy is not the Gospel. We’re invited into relationship with Jesus where we get to go to Him and say I’m in a pickle, but I know you have the solution, so can we sort this out together. 

Which even then sometimes just looks like being still and letting Jesus sort it out. I know that sounds wishy washy and yes we do have the responsibility to act and move but even then it’s all from a place of relying on Jesus. Let’s not be people who trust Jesus with the big stuff–our salvation and eternity–but think he can’t handle or isn’t interested in the smaller things. He is. 

And this is usually where I’ve missed the point.

In John 16, Jesus is recorded saying this wonderful sentence: But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (NASB)

This is Jesus saying it’s better for us to have the Holy Spirit than his physical presence on earth. 

Why Is It Better That We Have The Holy Spirit?

Because the Holy Spirit can be with each of us all the time. We aren’t battling for his attention. Or queueing up for a miracle. Or waiting our turn for his guidance. In John 14 when Jesus promises to send another helper–He uses the Greek word “allos” meaning another of the same kind (rather than heteros: another of a different kind). In other words, Jesus says I will send you another helper who is just like me: the same value, the same power, the same character. 

So it’s better because we can always be with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It’s also better because it means we get to grow in faith - walking by faith not by sight. Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29, NIV) It’s a blessing to not see.

I’m at risk of removing the meaning from this by overloading you with information. Here’s the point: the Holy Spirit in us is better than Jesus standing next to us. If you follow Jesus, you have access to the Holy Spirit. And through Him, you get to be with Jesus. Not to get something but for no other reason than to simply be with Him. Because he longs for your presence and when we’re at our best we long for his, too. Whatever you’d do or say if Jesus were sitting next to you, you can do and say the same thing right now, because of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus invites us to abide in Him as He abides in us. That word abide means to make your home in. How cool is that?

How Can We Practise Being With Jesus Daily?

It looks like what Paul says in first Thessalonians: to pray without ceasing. Or what Brother Lawrence calls practising the presence of God. For our minds to just keep going back to Jesus in all things - struggles, joys, conundrums. To live with an awareness of Jesus and enjoy his presence.

That’s easier said than done though, right? I love the days where I feel like I’ve cracked it, when I get to the end of the day and know I’ve spent the day abiding in Jesus. But then the next day I can wake up and have a completely self-reliant day, barely aware of Jesus at all. Welcome to the human condition. 

Just like anything we set out to do, being with Jesus takes practice. And, ironically, it takes relying on Jesus to keep coming back to Jesus. He invites us to rely on Him even to come to Him. So ask Him, “Jesus would you help me to live with an awareness of you. Give me a heart that loves you and longs for your presence.” Because we can only do this with the transformative power of Jesus. 

3 Key Spiritual Disciplines for Being With Jesus

These three disciplines help us to be with Jesus and can be part of a rule of life. But really, anything that means you focus on Jesus could be a spiritual discipline in this category–a daily walk for example.

Each of these things will help you to stay connected to Jesus, as a trellis helps the branches stay connected to the vine. But remember: the life isn’t in the trellis, the life is in the vine. These are simply practices to position you to receive the life that only Jesus can give. Don’t get them confused.

1. Sabbath: Resting as an Act of Trust

Let’s start here as it’s the first that appears in the Bible–when God rests after creation.

I know for some, sabbath may sound ritualistic but it doesn’t have to be. And for some it may seem unattainable, I’d argue again that it doesn’t have to be. A one day break from productive work can remind you that not everything rests on you. It allows us to release responsibility for the state of the world and put it firmly back where it belongs on God’s shoulders. 

And if a whole day really does feel impossible, start small. Get into the habit of taking an hour, then build up to a morning or afternoon. Do restorative things when you have a spare five minutes instead of scrolling. Take a mini retreat as you walk back from work. Or just go to bed 30 minutes earlier. 

If we’ve got more on our plate than minutes in our day, then there’s something on our plate that shouldn’t be there. God wouldn’t command rest and then give us so much to do that we have no time to follow the command. That’ isn’t what we saw in Jesus’s life - he rested and retreated often. Think about how you could prioritise resting with Jesus.

2. Solitude & Silence: Making Space for God's Presence 

The solitude part will be easier for some than others. As will the silence. 

It’s even harder to do this if we aren’t well rested. Because our minds are frantic. But if we are better rested, our minds calm down, and this is where we meet God. And contemplate him. Spend time with him. Think about him. Just be aware of his presence and his love for us.

It’s foundational because as we receive that love, we are transformed into people of love - the ultimate mark of a disciple.

And then the silence bit - it’s just not having speak all the time. Not having to justify ourselves and trusting God to instead. We can’t possibly right every lie, control every narrative about us, we can live as a person of love, and let that speak instead. I spoke about this in episode 3 Silence, Surrender, and Simon of Cyrene so check that out if you want a bit more. 

And finally, prayer.

3. Prayer: A Two-Way Conversation with God

We’ve built to this point, right? As we rest, we calm our minds down and get to enjoy solitude, just being with Jesus. And as we sit with Jesus, we’ll probably feel led to pray. Both to pray to Jesus, thanking him, interceding, worshipping, all forms of prayer, but also to just listen and hear from God. Prayer is meant to be a conversation. And listening time will never be wasted time. Just give it a go, there’s no bad way to pray, we just have to keep showing up.

So that’s it for today on being with Jesus. 

Let’s end with a question and a prayer as always:

Question

Which of these three practices feels the most challenging to you? Do you know why?

I’ll pray, but why don’t you continue the prayer with God to uncover why it feels challenging?

Prayer

Lord, thank you for simply inviting me to be with you. Thank you that you fully see me and know me and love me anyway. Would you give me a heart that loves you and longs to be in your presence, would you help me to abide in you each day, to find rest in you, to find my strength in you, to find contentment in you. I need you Lord, would you transform me as I spend time in your presence, so that I become a person of love. In your name Jesus, amen.