21 Days of DiscipleshipSample

Who’s Your Daddy?

By this point, Jesus has had multiple dialogues with the Pharisees. In John 8, the dispute centers around ancestry. Yes, it’s kind of odd. However, Jesus brings a powerful truth to light in the midst of this conversation. 

In John 8:39 NIV, we read: “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did.”

Wow. With this reference, Jesus reminds them that what Abraham did was take God at His word, obeying and following Him with no signs or rules to rely on. Just faith. The religious leaders of the day were acting in a way that was completely contrary to the way their father figure did. 

When Jesus confronts them about it, they then claim they are actually God’s kids, not Abraham's. But here’s the thing: If we say we’re God’s kids, we have to take our cues from Him and listen to what He says. The religious leaders did not take their cues from God. If they had, they would have begun to follow Jesus at the moment of His baptism! God literally called down from heaven saying:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 NIV

Don’t miss this. Who are you taking your cues from? Is it culture? Is it your own ego? Is it another person? Or is it Jesus? What we base our decisions on and take our cues from reveals who or what we trust the most.

When we call ourselves disciples of Jesus, we’re saying we trust Him with our lives, but do we live like that’s true? Do we take what He says seriously and act on it? Or do we really reveal that we trust something or someone else more than Him? 

Challenge: Disciples of Jesus take Him seriously. We realize that we cannot say we trust Him and will follow Him unless we actually listen to what He says. Ask God to reveal any areas of your life where you are taking your cues from something or someone other than Him. How can you choose to trust Jesus the most?