An Apprentice of the Carpenter

Preachers talk about "following Jesus" but what does that mean? We could use technical language and give a 100-word definition. But simply, it means to be his apprentice in living. Learning what he does and how he does it, learning to pay attention when he teaches, practicing and getting it sort of right, and practicing some more. Since Jesus was a carpenter, maybe
it would help to use an illustration of what it would be like in his carpenter shop. (With a nod to my friend Doug Johannsen, who is teaching me about woodworking a little at a time.)

Jesus might teach us like this: "This is a saw. You use the handle to move the sharp side across the board, and keep your thumb out of the way. Here, watch as I do it." And another lesson: "This is wood. The grain is smooth in one direction, and rough the other way, so be alert to run your hand the right direct...well now, that's called a 'splinter.'" A third lesson: "Looks like you cut that board too short. Let's review how to measure." And another: "This is sandpaper, and it takes the rough edges off. Watch carefully as I show you how to use it." The lessons would start with the basics and build on each other. Jesus wouldn't expect you to build a drawer when you don't know what a dovetail joint is, and he wouldn't expect you to do something by yourself that would require his help and direction.

I've tried to follow Jesus for a long time, and it got far too complicated at different stages. It's taken me a long time to get back to the simplicity of "pure and undivided devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3) and to think of my life as first of all, being his apprentice in living. May I encourage you to think of your life, also, as being his apprentice? I believe that will help us focus our thinking on Jesus himself, which will help us see and hear him more clearly. As we focus on him, other less-important matters will fall to the side, where they belong.

I believe you and I are Jesus' apprentices in "Living in the Kingdom." Like in his carpenter shop, he's going to give us one small lesson at a time, and we'll be reminded of how he did it first of all. So let's have our eyes and ears on Jesus as he leads us, and we'll be able to follow a little better every day.