Proximity

   Over the centuries, and really millennia, Christianity has taken on many expressions. Not all of them have been good or bad necessarily; however, it is quite possible that we have strayed from Jesus’ original intention. What was in His heart when He was forming the Church? What was His idea of how this was to be expressed?
    When Jesus was choosing followers, He extended this invitation: “Follow Me.” This phrase from the lips of Jesus is found 20 times throughout the Gospels. A basic way that this has been interpreted is: “walk after Me.” Yet, the Greek definition unveils a much more extensive and important meaning. The word “follow” is a compound word. The first part literally means: “come hither.” In other words, “come close to Me.” The second part of the word gives us the meaning to walk after Me, more in the sense of imitation. However, it is so important for us to remember that Jesus’ first call is to Him, to proximity. (Mark 3:13-15)
  It is absolutely critical to notice that the calling to Jesus preceded the calling to do for Jesus! The call of the disciple is first to be with Jesus. He wanted this! His longing was for them/us to be with Him and then function out of that nearness. I think we have gotten this mixed up over the passage of time. In fact, most of the commentaries that I accessed in studying the phrases “follow Me” focused on the part that came after, the doing, rather than the proximity that Jesus calls His disciples to!! We are first and foremost called to nearness to Him! Our doing should flow out of this. (Matthew 4:18-19)
   This is the first occurrence of Jesus using this invitation to “Follow Me.” A powerful additional concept is also realized here. If we will respond to His call to come close and emulate Him, something will happen to us. (Matthew 4:19 TPT) 
   As we respond to Jesus’ call to draw near and follow, we will experience transformation. Being in the Presence of Jesus transforms us into God’s intention for our lives! (Romans 8:29-30 NLT; Hebrews 13:20-21 AMP)
   It is God’s desire for us to experience transformation as we walk with Him, to become more and more like Jesus. We must not understand this in the cliché version of that phrase, but walk in proximity, in nearness, in communication, in relationship, in reality, close to Him! He wants to strengthen us, equip us, and transform us through that kind of relationship with Himself! (Matthew 11:29 TPT; Matthew 11:29-30 The Message Bible)
   Walking in a daily, communicative relationship with Jesus will change you! Personally, I think we have become so wrapped up in the doing, we have forgotten the being……with Him. All the way back to Eden, God created His humans so that He could walk with them (Genesis 3:8).
    This was Paul’s passionate pursuit – even in prison – pursuing Jesus all the way to the end!!! (Philippians 3:13-18 TPT)
   In this final quarter of 2026, before we enter 2027, let’s take inventory. What is our premier pursuit? What are we captured by? Jesus is calling us to proximity. Delight His heart by answering!!!! (Philippians 3:13 The Message Bible)