Be with Jesus For the next nine weeks were going to be on a journey together. Our goal will be a simple one – We are going to be with Jesus. We are going to be with him because there’s no one like him. Because he loves us. John 6:66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God. When a decisive answer Peter gave. We’re going to be with him because he has the words that give eternal life. Who else has words like this? That’s why we want to spend time with him. When Jesus called his disciples, he first called them to simply be with him. Mark 3:13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him, and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. We think about the disciples, we may forget the first thing that Jesus wanted from them. He just wanted them to be with him. Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. These are the man who had been with Jesus. Being with Jesus transformed this scraggly group into men who were launched the greatest movement in the world – the church. When it comes to being with Jesus, Jesus gives us a teaching that illustrates how this is done. John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Jesus starts by saying, “abide. Stay with me, stay close to me, live with me.” Abiding is being with Jesus. What you decide to abide in, where you decide you will allow your thoughts to constantly be, what you decide will be the inputs into your heart, where your money goes after you pay the bills, where your body goes when you have free time – wherever you decide to abide will form you. Jesus is inviting us to abide in him. To spend time with him. Every relationship in our life is either living because we are investing in it or they are dying because we are neglecting it. Walking with Jesus and abiding in him also needs attention. The first call of Jesus is simply just to be with him. Let’s see what GOD can do! Pastor Brian Harrell