Matthew 21:6 “The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

In one verse, both the Apostle Matthew and Jesus’ brother James sum up the two main points of discipleship: instruction and action. Jesus, throughout his entire ministry, did his most in-depth teaching with those who travelled with him wherever he went. Surely he taught in synagogues, homes, mountaintops and from boats but it was the private instruction to those he was closest to that reveals the most for believers today. Jesus taught, and the apostles ‘did’. That was how it worked then, and that is how it is intended to work today. Knowledge alone is useless unless it is for a purpose. Action without knowledge will often be lacking in effectiveness. As disciples of Christ, we will be recognized, according to the word, by our ‘fruit’. If a believer does not know what is needed to produce this fruit, he could put forth tons of ‘effort’ and never achieve the growth of fruit. If a believer knows what is needed to produce fruit in their life and doesn’t ‘do’ it, fruit will never be produced. Disciples learn what is expected and take action because their goal in being disciples in the first place is to emulate the one they follow – in word and action.

Pray: Lord God, you sent your son not only to teach us about you, but to live before us an example of how we too are to live. He has given us, directly from you, both his teachings and his actions to follow. You have left nothing to chance. Help me today, to be a faithful disciple of your son, following him through the study and application of his word. And may you receive all the glory and honor that my life produces for my efforts, in Jesus’ matchless name I pray – Amen