“He (Jesus) does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was, permeated with love. Then the doing of what he did and said becomes the natural expression of who we are in him.” Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy.

This is one of my favorite quotes so far from the book, underscoring where Willard is teaching us about discipleship.

Throughout The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard helps his readers see the intent of Jesus is to form a particular kind of people who can and will live in the reign of God. Discipleship, as we listen to Jesus, and as Willard takes us on a journey with Jesus, is more than a human progress project (“You can do ____.”); it is the blossoming of an inner state of being that naturally expresses itself in action – selfless, Jesus-like action. (More on this later).

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It’s good to be reading this book again.

What do you make of Willard’s quote above?

For my Lutheran friends — have many of you read Dallas Willard’s stuff? I’d like to hear more about how you interact with what Willard says.

— Ben.