Have you heard any testimonies of people surrendering their lives to God in radical ways? They are Damascus Road moments, so to speak (see Acts 9). Saul starts his journey as a self-satisfied murderer of Christians and ends it blind, humbled, and realizing he was egregiously wrong about Jesus and His sect of Judaism. 

In our modern day, we have similar incredible stories. People in remote villages with no Christians have a dream where Jesus comes to them and changes their life. People with addictions and disabilities experience radical healing and turn their life over to Jesus. 

To Follow Jesus

But for a lot of Americans– though not all– following Jesus comes more often through Emmaus Road moments: 

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:13-32).

Engaging with Scripture in community opens our eyes. It’s not glamorous to understand more of the Bible and God’s vision for the world slowly over the course of many conversations. But it can be transformative. 

Now you may be thinking, “this story was still pretty glamorous considering God showed up to teach them!” But that’s also available to us. The Holy Spirit takes on many roles, but one of them is bringing understanding to those seeking God. The Holy Spirit is God’s personal presence with us. As we prayerfully open the Bible, God works through the living and active words of Scripture and His people to form us into the type of people He intended for us to be. 

To Become Like Jesus

This formation takes a long time. No one tells you that– maybe because it’s obvious. And yet, it still feels discouraging when, years into following Jesus, you’re still working on the same issues. 

Lasting, sustainable formation into Christ-likeness comes from long obedience in the same direction, a phrase popularized by pastor and author Eugene Peterson. 

If we want to be formed into a certain type of person, we need to consider the types of habits and rhythms that lead to becoming that type of person. And then we have to take a good, hard look at our current habits and make some changes. 

For example, if you want to be a generous person, what are the habits of generous people? From my experience, they generally have a budget so they can track where their money is going. They also seem to move slowly enough in life that they notice people’s needs– including those that only come out through meaningful conversation. And usually, they are whittling away at their own comforts, reassessing “wants” and “needs.” 

As you take some practical steps in that direction, there may be some deep spiritual work that needs to be done, helping you work through a scarcity mindset or “carpe diem” lifestyle adopted in response to your childhood. This is work best done over time in a community of other followers of Jesus. Finding people to journey with toward Jesus is an irreplaceable part of sustainable formation. 

In the Manner of Jesus

In the life of Jesus, we get to read about His birth, a blip from His toddler years, one story from adolescence, and then nothing until He’s 30. From the age of 12 to 30, all we know is that He was likely working as a carpenter, first apprenticing under His dad and then taking over whenever His dad passed away. 

In the life of Saul/Paul, we know that after his radical conversion on the road to Damascus, he wasn’t well received among the Christians (understandably), and the Apostles thought it would be a good idea for him to go home to Tarsus and reexamine the Scriptures in light of his new faith in Christ. He did… for ten years. 

The way of Jesus isn’t about pomp and circumstance, quick fixes, or winning culture wars. Instead, we should embody Paul’s exhortations from Philippians 2:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!”

Humility. Love. Serving others– including those who mock and reject you. This is how Jesus pursued a life of following God. And so we are to take this quiet, humble path, too.