I am a Jesus pusher!!! Jesus extends the invitation, “Follow Me,” (Matthew 4:19). The disciples came with their own dreams and presuppositions. Jesus lived with them for three years and attempted to overcome their traditional expectations of an earthly kingdom. If they had only listened and grasped the significance of this early invitation from Jesus. He promised much more than a simple earthly change of government. Their faith needed to expand; His activity will be the shaping of their lives.
Wasn’t this ingrained in every discipleship attachment? Coming after a teacher meant to begin to be like Him, follow his teaching, and imitate his person. There was a formation, which must to take place in the life of the disciple. He would not be the same at the close of disciple program. He would join the master as one person and leave the teaching of the master a different person. While this would be true with any teacher and disciple, Jesus offered an entirely different level of change. Jesus came to live within them at Pentecost. In this new relationship, they began to grasp the depth of this formation. They must enter into this relationship through faith (invoking the activity of the second party). They must place themselves in His hands to shape them as He saw fit. What a privilege! I am a Jesus pusher!!!