“Anyone who wants to serve Me must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.” (John 12:26, NLT)
Jesus talked a lot about being a “disciple.” If you’re a believer, that’s probably a word you hear a lot too. But what did Jesus mean when He used the word disciple? To be a disciple, you must spend time with Jesus.
Because of our sin nature constantly agitated by the devil which plays on our hearts, minds, and tongues we must have God’s law work in us. In love, it’s His boundaries for our life activities. We must at times be disciplined when we’ve sinned. Disciplining keeps us realigned with God with a need to repent of sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. Pretty much throughout the day! That love boundary, repentance, and confession brings us back to the love of God in the work of Jesus on our behalf.
So, know that as you are called to disciple others you remain a disciple yourself. We share, pray, study, worship, again and again, daily. And then worship, pray, study with the larger church gatherings, in person or online for those unable to attend in person. In any relationship, the more time you invest, the more you’re going to get out of it. It’s true in your relationship with Jesus too. You can’t be a part-time disciple; it’s a full-time responsibility.
Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to serve Me must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me” (John 12:26, NLT).
This verse teaches three things about spiritual growth:
First, spiritual growth is a choice. The verse starts off, “Anyone who wants to serve me …” God won’t force growth on you, and it won’t come automatically. You have to want and choose to serve Him — to be His disciple. If you feel distant from God, it’s not because He’s moved away. He’s always right there, inviting you to draw near to Him. You have the choice to draw closer to Him or to move away.
Second, spiritual growth is a commitment. Jesus said that His disciples “must follow” Him. After you’ve made the choice to grow, you “must” follow through with commitment! You grow by making commitments. Getting married is a commitment that makes you grow up. So is having kids, or taking on a new job, or pursuing an education. Anytime you make a commitment, you grow. That includes when you commit to being Jesus’ disciple.
Third, spiritual growth is a relationship. Jesus said, “My servants must be where I am.” It’s not about rules. It’s not about rituals. It’s not about a formula. It’s not about a bunch of expectations. It’s about being with Jesus. Obviously, Jesus isn’t here physically today. So how can you be with Him? A great way is by having an ongoing conversation with Him. Those can be quick prayers as you’re talking to someone at work, cleaning your house, or driving a car. As you do this over time, you will hear God speaking back to you, by filling your mind with truth and putting impressions in your heart.
Are you ready to start growing as a disciple of Jesus? It’s simple to get started: Just spend time with Him.
Ponderings:
- What usually comes to mind when you hear the world disciple? How has today’s devotion changed that?
- When have you grown by making a new commitment?
- What one change can you make to start spending more time with Jesus this week?
Prayer
Lord, I thank You for what You daily give me for my life. Help me to grow more as Your disciple whether I’m in prayer with You, while studying Your Word, and in my time worshipping You.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
