March 9, 2023 – Luke 9:28-62
About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. Luke 8:28
In yesterday’s devotion we talked about making space to welcome new people into your life. Today I want us to think about the way we invite others into life-changing experiences.
It is no secret Jesus was a compelling person to know. In an instant, he turns the lives of many, including a tax collector and even some fishermen, upside down in the best possible way. If only we could have been there the very moments he uttered the words “follow me” to them. I’m guessing we would have gotten caught up in saying yes to him as well.
But what sorts of invitations do we offer these days? In the verse above Jesus is headed up a mountain to pray and he is not alone. These days in American Christianity we tend to operate solo with the mindset of having a “personal relationship with Jesus,” but we were never meant to live this life alone. We are, of course, called to invite others into community, but we are also called to pay our faith forward, by inviting others in and sharing what we know and are learning with them.
It is easy to say we are busy or do not have the skills, but the reality is Jesus chose to make investing in a handful of others, teaching them what he knew a priority in his short time on the planet. Should we not do the same?
Questions for reflection:
- Who invested in you and your faith, making it what it is today?
- What keeps you from inviting others to be a part of your journey?
- What expressions of your Christian faith could you invite others into?
- Who do you know that would benefit from spending time with you?