Ready:
“The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.” - 1 Juan 2:6
Set:
Following someone else’s example is a proven method for improvement. Young athletes imitate their favorite elite players on the playground and in competition. Flashing a Euro-step or fade away they saw the night before. But eventually, there comes a point when watching highlight reels and trying to duplicate the move just doesn’t cut it. A real coach and real practice are needed to institute lasting growth.
If we are going to truly grow and remain in Jesus Christ, as He commanded, then we need the same thing. A real coach and real practice.
“The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.” - 1 John 2:6. Did you catch it there? “Just as he walked,” we don’t have to go searching for a coach on how to remain in Jesus. Jesus is our Coach. We just have to walk as He walked.
So, how did He walk?
First of all, He walked with God the Father. “I know that his command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me” (John 12:50). Jesus spent time alone with God. Four separate times in Luke it talks about Jesus going off alone to pray (Luke 4:42, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18). This doesn’t have to look fancy in our lives. We don’t need a special mountain. We just need to take the time to spend with God. We have to set aside time and then protect that time. As coaches and athletes, we wouldn’t skip practice. The result of that would mean we are not improving, and we would have no idea what the game plan was. The same commitment applies to our time with God. We cannot know God or what He wants if we do not spend time with Him.
The benefits of time with God are immense. As we remain in Him, we produce the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). We also begin to “put away all the following, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8). Time remaining in God transforms our lives in the best ways.
Being His disciple and walking with Him is the only way to transform my life. That transformation motivates me to be more and more like Him, so I spend more time learning His ways. It is a beautiful cycle that in the end shows I am a proven disciple.
Go:
Who have you tried to imitate in your sport?
How often do you skip practice? Time with God? Why?
What steps can you take to prioritize time with God?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, forgive us for not prioritizing time with You. We want to walk as You walked. Coach us on how best do that. Transform our lives as we grow deeper in relationship with You. We love You! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”