Have you ever read the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer? The book’s whole title is: Practicing the Way: be with Jesus, become like him, do as he did. That title tells the main goals of an apprentice. I read the book last year and found many great benefits as I applied it to my life.  I am going to share some of my take-aways with you.

Apprentice to Jesus

Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher. The first Jesus-followers developed a Rule of Life. We, too, can work toward developing our own habits and practices based on the life of Jesus, rather than following our own plans without any direction from our Lord. The disciples learned to live like their teacher, and they became people who made space for God to transform their lives. John Mark Comer details an introduction to spiritual formation that both new believers and lifelong followers of Christ can use to create a habit of following the Way of Jesus. To follow Jesus is to become his apprentice it’s to organize your entire life around three goals: be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as he did.

Goal 1: Be with Jesus 

Our first goal is to be with Jesus. What does it mean to be with Jesus? We need to “abide” in Jesus. What is abiding, you might ask? Abiding is living in a moment-by-moment flow of love within the Trinity, that is God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Living a life that is led by the Holy Spirit is the main way we can be with Jesus. Let your body become God’s home. Pray without ceasing. Practice the presence of God. It will take practice to master how to do this thing called “abiding in Jesus.” We can turn God into a habit by helping our minds constantly return to thinking about God. Eventually our minds will anchor themselves to God. 

One way of doing this is to begin each morning in prayer. Some people call the place they pray their “prayer closet. “Others call it their “secret place.” Jesus set a good example of this when He would withdraw to “lonely places” and pray. This habit of seeking a quiet space in the busyness of life has come to be called the spiritual discipline of solitude, silence, and stillness.

Goal 2: Become Like Him 

Becoming like Jesus is a journey to spiritual formation. Spiritual formation could be defined as the process of being formed into people who love like Jesus. God is love. Love can only happen in relationship. God has drawn near to us in Jesus. Jesus, our rabbi, is our teacher. He is a truth teller. He sets us free from lies and broken patterns that go back generations. He transforms us into people who are foll of love, joy, and peace, just like He is.  

Goal 3: Do as He Did 

Jesus told His disciples, His apprentices, to go and make apprentices of all kinds of people. We are to do the same. People who have studied apprenticeship say that it can be a four-stage training process. 

• Stage 1- I do and you watch. 
• Stage 2- I do and you help. 
• Stage 3- You do and I help. 
• Stage 4- You do and I watch. 

We see in the Bible that Jesus used this exact process in training His disciples. 

Practical Takeaways

• Make space for people like Jesus did by intentionally practicing hospitality.
• Find where God is already working and join Him.
• Be a witness by telling people about our life with Jesus.
• Live life with Jesus in a calm, loving way.
• Live a beautiful life and give God to others. 
• Demonstrate the gospel to others. Actively do good to others. 

Action Step

Our goals as apprentices of Jesus are to learn how to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did. It is a lifelong journey of following Jesus through the practices and rhythms He and his earliest followers lived by. Read Practicing the Way and make a “Rule of Life.” You will create a habit of following Jesus that will result in a closer relationship with Him. 

May God bless you on your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. How do you practice the way of Jesus?