Presence: What If Jesus Were Really Here?

by R. Ashbrook

Then his attention gravitated to the other aspect of transformation they discussed. “Not only do we have to become like Jesus in the way He relates to the Father and to others,” Jim thought, “but we have to learn how to follow our King in bringing in the Kingdom.” Jim had always recognized his responsibility to share the Gospel with others and invite them to receive God’s grace for salvation. He understood his call to disciple new believers, teaching them to read the Scriptures, to pray, and to get involved in the life of the church. But he never really recognized his responsibility to actually make warriors of every believer, to help them mature, new and old. “I need to train them how to follow Jesus in their homes and workplaces and in their social relationships, not just tell them that they should.” What troubled him most was that, in all his seminary training, no one had taught him how to do that either. “Hmm, Boot Camp for God’s Warriors of Love. Sounds pretty intriguing. Would probably also get me fired.” As Jim left the library, an uneasy question crossed his mind. “What in the world is He up to now? Why more chairs? I don’t think I’m going to like this.”