Friday, May 2, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 10

John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What does it really mean to follow Jesus?

According to Jesus, it's more than belief - it's a daily decision to remain faithful to his teachings. To follow Jesus is to trust him enough to align our thoughts, choices, and direction with his.

Jesus transforms not just our spiritual life but every area of our life. He wants to shape how we view work and our church and even how we deal with the hard stuff - like the difficult people and circumstances in our lives and the pressures we face at school or home.

But here's where many of us get stuck: we compartmentalize Jesus into a small corner of our lives instead of letting him lead us fully to the life of peace and purpose he has for us.

What if following Jesus wasn't meant to be one part of life but the process that transforms all of it?

In a world where social media is loud, cultural messages keep shifting, and standards are always changing, Jesus offers a steady truth we can actually trust.

The beauty in following him is that we don’t have to get everything right. We just have to stop holding back and choose to move in his direction. Staying faithful to his teachings isn't about pressure or keeping rules. It's about staying close in a relationship with him.

Through that closeness, we can truly understand who God is and who we are - or can be - in him.

Questions:
Take a moment to ask yourself: What shift would I have to make from just believing in Jesus to really following him?

Next Steps:
Pick one area of your life - like school, work, family, or friendships - where you've been trying to lead on your own. This week, take one intentional step to invite Jesus into that space. It could be starting your day with a short prayer, pausing to reflect before making a decision, or simply asking, "Jesus, what would it look like to follow you here?"

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for inviting us into a life of freedom through following you. Help me remain faithful to your teachings, not just in what I believe but in how I live. Transform my mind, guide my steps, and remind me that this journey isn’t about perfectly following rules – it’s about following you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the LivingItOut Devotional.