Become Radical Like JesusНамуна

DAY 1: BE

As I was growing up, my aunts and cousins were the epitome of tough. I, however, was the epitome of not-tough-enough. Being raised in the highest-crime-rate area of my city, I was afraid of the rampant gangs and street violence that swarmed my house at a young age.

My solace wasn’t in cracking skulls, but in cracking open books—especially the little red King James Version Bible my second-grade Sunday school teacher gave me. It was the Bible I took with me underneath the kitchen sink, my place to get away and just “be” with God.

Being with the Heavenly Father

To become radical like Jesus, we must be intentional, passionate and curious when it comes to spending time with the Father and his Word. Nobody modeled this better than 12-year-old Jesus, who decided to stay in Jerusalem instead of traveling with the family caravan back to Nazareth. He was in the temple for three days, growing in his understanding of God, and his mother’s concern confused him.

“‘But why did you need to search?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they didn’t understand what he meant.” Luke 2:49

Why did Jesus enjoy being in the temple? He longed to be where God’s Word was being publicly read and explained, and he enjoyed discussing it with the top Torah teachers of his time.

Be Intentional

The Holy Scriptures were central to Jesus’ time at the synagogue, his home life and his personal life.

Are they central to yours?

God’s Word is perfect, refreshing, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm, righteous, precious and sweet (Psalm 19:7-11). Jesus mastered Scripture. He read it, meditated on it, memorized it and obeyed it. So should we.

Be Passionate

Jesus was so passionate about being in his Father’s house and understanding his Father’s Word that he spent three days and nights in the temple, without his family, as a 12-year-old boy.

Where did Jesus sleep during these three days? How did he eat? Did he care?

He didn’t want to just know more, he wanted to grow more—to love his Father perfectly and obey him.

I’m a passionate guy. When I preach, the veins in my neck pop. But, as passionate as I am about preaching, I want to be more passionate about my time in God’s Word. I have chosen to “be” in my Father’s house. Join me there.

Radical Like Jesus Challenge

For the next 21 days, set a daily time and place to meet with the Lord for at least 15 minutes.