“And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:4-5)
There are many books and trainings out there by various authors on what it means to be a disciple. Mary, the mother of Jesus, gives us her instructions on being a disciple, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” She breaks discipleship down to its simple core, “listening and doing”. We are called to actively listen to Jesus, to seek Him out and hear His voice. “My sheep hear My voice…. and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27). We seek. listen to, and hear his voice when we open our Bibles, when we bend our knees in prayer, and when we become vulnerable in accountability with other believers. And then once we hear what Jesus is telling us, we without delay obey it and do it. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (1John 5:2-3)
To call your self a Christian means you are saying you are a follower of Christ. To follow someone you have actively to listen to them, and you have to obey them. Being a disciple then is simply, Listening to what Jesus is telling you to do, and then doing it. How are you daily actively listening to Jesus, to hearing his voice and fallow Him as a Christian every day:? Are you intentionally setting aside time daily to read your Bible, and pray? Are you in a Band group (accountability group) that meets weekly? How are you intentionally and actively being obedient to what you hear? Again, what accountability do you have in place? If you are not in a Band ( accountability group) the first thing you need to do and obey is intentionally get into one. Going to church worship services and gatherings are important and we are commanded to worship together. However, when you walk out of that building are you walking out thinking church is over, or are you walking out having heard from Jesus in the songs, message preached and prayers and walking out ready to obey what you heard and begin “real church.” Inside a church service we actively hear from Jesus, it is when we walk out the church doors we intentionally obey what we heard Jesus tell us to do.
Jesus, remind me through your Holy Spirit this morning that the core of your call over my life to be a follower of you is not mainly found in rituals, religion, and routines. It is found in listening to your voice and obeying what I hear. Let me hear Mary’s words above as if she is speaking only to me, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Mary practiced what she preached, as when she heard what God was asking her to do, and her reply was, “And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) Let me have the bold obedience of a Mary, who was just a 16 year old girl.
My family, I pray this morning you take time to actively listen to what Jesus is telling you to do. You may have already heard His voice speaking to you in your heart. And I pray you then intentionally and without delay, obey Him and do what He has told you to do. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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