Be My Disciple

My Beloved, 

I call you closer to me, closer to my heart. I call you to spend time with me, listening to me, reading my Word with me, talking things through with me. This is how I want to grow and equip you for the upcoming season. This is my training ground for you over the next few months: Come and be my disciple and let me transform you into my image and my likeness.

Become aware of how much I love you and imitate me just like children learn by watching their parents. I love you dearly. Now come and spend time with me and discover a life filled with deep love. 

I love you boldly and extravagantly, not cautiously. 

I do not love you to gain something from you but to give my whole self. Now go and love in the same way.

Read the Gospel and observe how I interact with people and handle various situations. Begin to imitate me in your daily life. Little by little you will become more like me. Then, when others look at you, they will see Me in you and through you. They will see My actions reflected in you and hear My proclamations through your words. They will see Me healing the sick through your touch and feel My love through your loving care. They will experience My deliverance when you command demons to leave them.

This is my heart’s desire for your life: Just as I was in the Father, so you will be in Me and I will be in you. You will experience the same love-filled union with Me that I shared with the Father. Then the world around you will see and know My love through you.

Activation:

In the coming weeks, as you read Gospel stories, pay attention to Jesus’s actions, words and the love and dignity he shows towards others. Let his behavior inspire you in your daily life.

Follow Him, follow his ways in handling situations and relating to people. Go and imitate Jesus in your daily tasks and your encounters with people – and His Love will begin to radiate in you and from you.

John 14:19-20 (NIV)

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also

will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in

you.

Romans 8:29 (ESV)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,

in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from

their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of

love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love

in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.