Today’s Devotion
Topic: Real Disciples
Text: John 8: 31- 32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Amen
In His walk with the disciples, Jesus taught the disciples lots of values through parables and plain teachings. This He did out of love in order for the disciples to have a good and prosperous life.
The world and everything in it was made in and through Him (john 1:1-2). Because of this, Jesus was and still remains the best person to give instructions as to how to live in this world. It’s just like a manufacturer giving instructions as to how his product is to be used. He is the best person to instruct us about life..
You see many of us respond to the name ‘christain’ and even desire to be called good and faithful servants when Christ appears in glory, yet very unwilling to hold to His teachings.
We fill every space we can possibly get on Sundays for church services; auditoriums, Chapels, temples, classrooms and under shades or trees. We wear the best clothes and cologne. We are the first to arrive and last to leave yet our lives look nothing like Him.
On a Sunday as this, we display so much extravagance such that we become disappointed if people did not notice us after all the cat walking before service begun; or the dancing during praises time. It becomes very difficult to go home even when grace has been said because it means you wore your best to church for nothing. We move from person to person at the car park to make sure we have attained the needed attention, before we can go home.
It is even more alarming to know that we pay least attention to His word. We don’t care about growing in Him to be real disciples. We just want to please ourselves and have all the fun in this world without His “restrictions”.
Well, no matter the position we hold at church or the flambouyance we display, Jesus requires more than just the Christian branding. He desires a more intimate and closer walk with Him. Not as “on-lookers” and “self- pleasers”, but as real disciples. That way He grooms us to become just like Him and serve as light in this dark and perverse world.
Therefore tell all who respond to the name “Christian” not to live to fulfil the gratification of the flesh but according to the will and ways of Christ. For holding on to His teachings is not just about knowing them, but choosing His word over every other thing irrespective of the surrounding circumstances.
This should not be too difficult for us if we love Him. Jesus admonishes us in John 14: 15 to keep His commands if we love Him. Actually, it is easier to pay attention to the people we love and do exactly what they say in order to please. Besides, it is not by our own righteousness that we please God. Rather, “.. it is God (Himself) who works in us both to will and to do in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Phil. 2:13). He will help us if we avail ourselves for a more intimate walk with Him.
Begin to pray now for all believers. Ask that God helps us to trust and obey Him at all times and in all circumstances. Pray also for yourself that God will build in you the willingness to obey Him out of love and not by compulsion. More than a church goer, you want to be a real disciple. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free!
See you at church!
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