Apprenticing Jesus
Every now and then a book comes along that captures our hearts and helps us deepen our life with the Lord. The book Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer, is one of those books.
Comer explains the idea of apprenticing Jesus. We’re used to the word disciple, or the idea of walking in the way - but what does it mean to apprentice Jesus?
To be a true apprentice meant you learned a skill or trade by daily watching your teacher and following their instructions. Jesus was raised by a carpenter, and surely learned his ways of thinking, developing, and crafting projects from start to finish. Faith is not a quick fix. It needs the guidance and mastery of a true Master. Jesus walked out His faith within certain practices that helped His spirit and body powerfully live according to the purpose and calling of His father.
Comer shares nine core practices that Jesus lived by. As His apprentices, we can too. In this episode, we are sharing five of the nine practices Comer explains.
Sabbath: Practicing a Sabbath is a beautiful way to honor God and to give our bodies and brains the rest they need within a week. Many of us operate in a state of exhaustion, never pausing, always doing and performing. Sabbath is something Jesus practiced as He took time one day a week to unplug from the demands of life and enjoy God’s presence.
One of the problems we have that keep us from Sabbath is we don’t schedule MARGIN in our lives. Margin is building timeframes between activities and events that give us a chance to reset or refocus. When we don’t build in margin, we risk facing:
Burnout: The feeling that you don’t care about what you used to care about. You’re now passive, negative, or cynical where you used to feel engaged, committed, and passionate.
Resentment: Resentment strikes when we push too hard and start to feel taken advantage of or under-appreciated. When resentment grows due to lack of margin, we don’t see our purpose correctly, we make mistakes or waste time in dark negativity.
Solitude: Luke 5:16 says that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. There’s a difference between solitude and isolation. Solitude is a place of quiet and being alone so we can learn from the Lord and hear Him—whereas isolation is a place of withdrawal and loneliness; a place that others (including God) often can’t penetrate. The devil is an isolator, while God is a connector. He loves to connect us to Himself, His Holy Spirit, and each other.
Prayer: According to Comer, there are four basic levels to prayer:
Talking to God.
Talking with God
Listening to God
Being with God
Each of these levels was modeled by Jesus, and as we apprentice Him, our understanding of prayer deepens.
Fasting: Comer shares, “In fasting you are literally praying with your body, offering all that you are to God in worship. As you yield your body to God, you are breaking the power of the flesh to control you and opening the power of the Spirit in its place.”
There are different types of fasting that we can participate in. Fasting of food, time, habits, or even sleep (for the purpose of prayer) are all beautiful practices that Jesus mentored.
Scripture: Scripture is the primary way we are “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” (Romans 12:2) Jesus recited and knew scriptures that helped frame His faith and belief. We can practice using scripture to heal our minds, bodies, relationships, and most important—deepen our faith.
Gutsy Faith Challenge: Pick one of the practices and for two weeks, look at it as your appreciating course with Jesus. Focus on that practice and live it out. Let us know which one you’ve selected so we can pray for you and hold you up! Fun fact: Gari picked Sabbath and Carla picked Prayer. We’re with you…growing alongside you!
Have thoughts or questions about today’s episode? Message us or leave a comment below.