“The ongoing work of discipleship is a feature, not a bug.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 3, 2025
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, NIV
I’m blessed to live on a relatively large piece of land, surrounded by rolling hills that remind us that the mountains are just a short drive away. That said, this land requires a great deal of attention, and in the summer months, simply keeping the lawn mowed and trimmed can feel like a part-time job! Yet, after hours of intense labor, few things are more satisfying than sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair, iced beverage in hand, observing with great pride the reward of our hard work. And while this does provide a moment of triumph and a feeling of victory, as soon as the work is done, nature kicks back into full gear and begins to undo everything we’ve accomplished, and in a week or so, the entire process has to be repeated.
Yardwork is not a “one-and-done” chore. It requires ongoing maintenance and constant attentiveness. The same is true of our lives with Christ.
It’s easy to think that one-off spiritual experiences can “carry” our faith for an extended period of time. And while “mountaintop moments” have their place and should be celebrated, they must never replace the daily encounter of the mercy of God into which each of us is invited. We live our lives at the dinner table and in the office, in the classroom and on the sports field, not on the top of the mountain, and it is in these seemingly mundane places that we are invited to encounter the life and love of the kingdom. And the repeated nature of these moments offers such an opportunity for growth.
The ongoing work of discipleship is a feature, not a bug. It is the way the Lord has made us, giving us people and places that we encounter daily, teaching us to receive love as a precious gift, and to offer it back to the Lord with open hands of gratitude and thanksgiving. This is not a lesson to be learned and forgotten or a single experience to carry you to the end, but is instead the very life we are invited to live, growing “more and more” into the likeness of Christ.
Prayer
Father, teach us to celebrate and embrace the gift of daily discipleship, for it is in the seemingly small and mundane moments that we encounter your love afresh, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
What does the “ongoing maintenance” of discipleship look like in your life in this season?
Related Reading
Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Peter 3:18
Worship Resource
Phil Wickham: Great Things
Donate
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision.
Download our app!
