Which is:
- I will abide in Jesus tonight and tomorrow and the next day. I'll continue to be a branch connected to Jesus the Vine. Seminary classes are not what I am attached to. The same Jesus that spoke to you and me over the past few days will not stop speaking just because we're not at the seminary. I have great hope and expectation tonight and tomorrow and the next day. The God-encounter is a daily thing for me, varying, of course, in its clarity and intensity. But it's all real.
- I will saturate myself in Scripture. God meets me in Scripture. I am more Scripture-focused than I have ever been in all my Jesus-days. I study it and meditate on it. I ingest it and, by God's Spirit, it gets into me. I'll just keep doing this. I do not need a class to do this.
- I will listen for God's voice, speaking to me. When God speaks to me this week I'll write it down in my spiritual journal. God has much to tell me, tonight and tomorrow and the next day. God is not thinking, "John's no longer at the spiritual formation class so I won't speak to him in his own home and community." I think like this: today... could be the day where God speaks to me in such ways that my life gets more transformed into a greater Christlikeness. I'm not predicting this. I also won't be shocked if it happens when I'm not at the class (which was a very good one, BTW, with a beautiful group of students and the presence of God showing up in all of us).
- I will obey when the Spirit directs. I'm not going to claim absolute, perfect obedience. I am not God's perfect servant, as Jesus was. But I do obey God, and find it a delight, even if only sometimes ex post facto. We are God's servants; therefore transform us, O God, into greater servanthood.
It's all about abiding in him, being connected to him, and being where he wants me to be. God Himself is a very good course instructor. His classes are free (except that it will cost you everything).
