transformed by being with Jesus

I have been reading through the Gospels and Acts lately and one thing has continued to jump out at me. Every time i turn a page to read more I am struck by the fact that it was being with Jesus that transformed the disciples into the early church leaders they became. The disciples did not go to come special school or conference to be changed. They simply spent time with Jesus - they spent everyday life with Jesus.

I think that is the way that we are transformed into who Jesus wants us to be today. It may look different but we transformed by being with Jesus - by doing everyday life with Jesus. We may not physically see the Person of Jesus sitting across from us or walking next to us, but we can still choose to allow Him to be a part of our every day life. That is was transforms us. That is how we become more and more like Christ.

So how do we choose to make Jesus a part of our every day lives?

I think that 1 Thessalonians 5:17 gives us a pretty good place to start when it says: "pray continually." This means we make conversation with God a part of everything we do. It does not have to be getting down on our knees and spending an hour praying. Although there is a time and a place for more focused prayer, praying continually means that we include in our every day life by talking to Him about as our day happens.

The other way we spend time with Jesus is by setting aside time to read His Word and to listen for what He might have to say to us. People call this many things - devotions, Bible study, personal time, quiet time, etc. What you call it does not matter. What it actually looks like does not matter. What matters is that you take time to spend with Jesus - time where you focus on Him and what He has to say.

Ultimately the ways we choose to make Jesus a part of our every day lives sound simple, but are a little more difficult to actually follow through with. We get caught up in life and often that means Jesus takes a backseat. But this is not how it is meant to be. And it is not how we become transformed like the disciples who spent three years living life with Jesus. But, if we truly desire transformation and to become more like Christ, then we need to spend time with Jesus - however that looks for you. Each person is different and things look different. But, what should be the same is that it becomes a priority in our lives.