“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

If you pay attention to the language Luke uses in Acts to describe followers of Jesus, an interesting pattern emerges. Early in Acts, Luke refers to the early converts as “those who believed” to highlight the transformation that was beginning in their lives. But as the story unfolds, he begins change his description to use a wider vocabulary: disciples, brothers/sisters, saints, and apostles.

To believe in Christ is not enough, it is when our beliefs change our actions that faith becomes real.

Jesus was not looking for mere believers in the sense of people who simply align with ideas. He called disciples; followers who would walk with Him, imitate Him, and eventually invite others to do the same.

Therefore, our faith must move beyond an intellectual pursuit to an embodied faith. Followers of Jesus become more than believers in the Word; they become doers of it.

I am reminded of Frederick Buechner’s description of conversion as unfolding in three stages: a life in Christ, a life with Christ, and ultimately a life for Christ.

The first step is identifying yourself with Christ. It is placing your trust in Him. The Greek word often translated “believe” carries the idea of trust, dependence and reliance. We trust Christ enough to put our life in His hands. But faith does not stop with belief.

Next comes a desire to spend time with Christ. You cannot build a marriage by giving your spouse one distracted hour on Sunday. Relationships grow through presence and consistency. The same is true with Jesus. If we want to know Him, we must intentionally spend time with Him.

Then over time something deeper happens. Your desires slowly begin aligning with God’s desires. You begin bearing the fruit of a faithful life. Your life gradually becomes less about your own agenda and more about His kingdom. You become a person of purpose. You are living for Christ wherever you are, with whoever is in front of you.

So where are you in your faith journey?

• Have you gone all-in? Do you have a life in Christ? If not, what area are you withholding?
• Are you intentionally spending time with Christ? If not, what barriers are keeping you from spending time with Him?
• Are you living for Christ or are you still mostly living for yourself with some Jesus moments sprinkled in?