Every Moment Is a Discipleship Moment

We have unique opportunities every day to experience abundant life. God calls each of us into his story of redemption and gives us kingdom influence. Our lives can make a difference. Each moment can count. Sadly, many of us will waste these moments. We will pursue our wants over his will. We will set new year resolutions that lead us away from wholeness in Jesus.

Jesus died. He rose again. He ascended to heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

Jesus lives forever. He leads us and loves us and calls us into deeper fellowship with him and others. He was serious when he said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). He’s always on the move. Are we following his lead or sitting still? Are we walking with him toward difficult people or keeping our distance?

He wants to teach us to seek his kingdom first. He wants to challenge us to pursue his will, not desire the ways of this world or a shadow version of ourselves.

We are called into a life of discipleship. There is never a moment when we are not being discipled. The real question is: who’s discipling us? Is it the world or the one who overcame it?

I was riding my bicycle with a friend recently. The sun was shining. It was the kind of day that makes you think everything is right in the world. All at once, like an interruption from heaven, I was reminded that every moment is a discipleship moment.

In Scripture, we are called to take every thought captive for Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). How many thoughts have crossed your mind today? Has Jesus been at the center of them? Have you consciously given each moment to him? If your answer to the last two questions was yes, I desperately need to meet you and learn your trick.

Every moment is a discipleship moment—when we’re brushing our teeth; when we’re driving to work; when we’re eating dinner; when we’re taking out the trash; when we’re worshiping with the saints on Sunday morning.

Having sex is a discipleship moment, too. Seriously. When’s the last time you acknowledged God while on full display for your spouse? Not in some weird way but from your heart, crying out, “Thank you Jesus for this incredible gift. How can I best honor you with it?”

Our lives belong to him. Our time belongs to him. Our wallets belong to him. Nothing should be held back.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:11 (CSB)

Some of us need to grow up. We do. I don’t mean to sound rude. It’s just true. There are times in my life when I need to put childish ways behind me. How about you?

This life will never satisfy us like Jesus can. We can act like children—kicking and fighting and crying to get our way, but it won’t work. Regardless of our income, status, role, gender, age, intelligence, success, or any other way we try to measure up, our best efforts simply won’t work. Life is not about us.

It is and will always be all about Jesus. What he has done. What he is doing. What he will continue to do.

Jesus is calling us into the deep end. We’ll have to swim. We’ll have to grow up.

Every moment is a discipleship moment. Don’t waste any of it.