Discipleship Marathon

Read Proverbs 18

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.”

John 8:31

Clearly, discipleship has little to do with how we feel and almost everything to do with how we obey Jesus Christ. In other words, since there is no feeling to which disciples are immune, it is possible to experience almost any feeling and remain a faithful disciple of Jesus. The central question for the disciple of Jesus is not “How do I feel right now?” but “Am I continuing to obey?”

Note that Jesus did not promise an “obey–feel good, obey–feel good” kind of instant-gratification cycle to his disciples. His standard of faithfulness covers those who “keep obeying.” If there is a cycle in Jesus’ proverb, it might be described in this way: Those who keep obeying find in their persistent obedience a deeper awareness of what is true, which leads in turn to a greater sense of freedom to continue to obey.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Knowing precedes obedience.

Lord, keep me aware throughout the day that I want to be an obedient disciple of yours for the long run of life.