“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross.” — Galatians 5:24
Devotional: Ancient Jewish disciples followed their rabbis so closely that there was a common blessing: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.”
The picture is beautiful. A disciple walked so near to his teacher that the dust stirred up by the teacher’s footsteps would cover him. This is the kind of relationship Jesus desires with His followers.
Many people follow Jesus from a distance. They attend church occasionally, pray when they need help, and seek God when life becomes difficult. But true disciples stay close. They want to know His voice, follow His leading, and imitate His character.
When you walk closely with Jesus, your desires begin to change. The things that once controlled you lose their grip. Your heart becomes aligned with His heart. You begin caring about what He cares about.
This is why Paul wrote that those who belong to Christ have crucified the desires of the flesh. The closer you get to Jesus, the harder it becomes to hold onto things that displease Him.
Discipleship is not about trying harder. It is about following closer.
The Lord is not calling you merely to believe in Him. He is calling you to walk with Him. He wants your life to reflect His life, your thoughts to reflect His thoughts, and your heart to reflect His heart.
Stay close to Jesus. Let His dust cover your life.
Prayer: Father, help me follow Jesus more closely than ever before. Remove every distraction that pulls me away from You. Let my desires become Your desires and my heart become aligned with Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Practical Challenge: Ask yourself honestly: “What is one thing that is keeping me from following Jesus more closely?” Surrender that area to God in prayer and take one practical step toward obedience today.