Serving the Jesus Way - Part 2

Jesus' primary commitment in serving was to His 12 disciples. You don't impact a world or start a movement that goes to the uttermost by only serving crowds. There has to be investment in individuals...individuals who can then invest in others.

Investment serving happens through relationships. Jesus called the 12 "to be with Him." Mark 3:14 It may not seem or sound "fair" in a culture like ours, but not everyone was eligible to be with Christ in this way. In fact, Jesus could be VERY "unfair" (it seems to us) because he had the 1 (Peter), the 3 (Peter, James, John), the 12, the 72 (Luke 10:1ff), and the 120 (upper room?). How dare He make distinctions between who was and wasn't to be with Him! How dare He leave the other 9 behind to take Peter, James, and John on select outings! How dare He? Because He spent the whole night in prayer to the Father to make sure just the 12 were chosen that should be chosen (Luke 6:12). These were a prepared 12 men, even though one of them was the betrayer.

For us, Paul gives instructions re: who we should choose to invest in, in this "be with us" way. In 2 Timothy 2:2 he tells Timothy to "entrust" the things Paul had invested in him to "faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." In one sense, we are to "move with the movers." We are to love and serve all men, but investment of life is for those who will not just take, but become givers and servers and disciplers in their own rights.

Some critical lessons from Jesus' "be with Me" choices:

• Since I never outgrow my need of being discipled by Jesus, I need to be with Him regularly to HEAR Him (Word) and SPEAK to Him (Prayer). But do I?
• I am also discipled by Jesus when I am "with" others who are committed disciples of His. If I look around and it's just Jesus and me (all the time or most of the time), it is debatable whether any true discipleship is taking place. There is NO substitute on earth for the fellowship of the local church. But this fellowship must be real and a "rubbing" kind so that iron can sharpen iron.
• Are you investing your life in someone? Maybe you don't know too much, but you probably know enough to share with and benefit someone else. If you are walking with Jesus and spending regular time in His Word and participating in your local church and therefore growing yourself, you can choose someone to be with you. Ask them out for tea or coffee or a sloppy burger. Inquire into their spiritual life. Share with them what you are learning. Share with them how to pray for others. Just do it.

Life investments all around. It's the Jesus way to serve.