No Days Off: Day 1

Day 1: Jesus’ Invitation  

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:19, Acts 11:26

“No days off.” 

That phrase is synonymous with determination, commitment, and a desire to see something through to the end. You may have said this when you joined a gym because you wanted to build muscles or lose ten pounds. Yet, the same is true in your spiritual life. To develop spiritual muscles and become stronger, we also need a “No Days Off” commitment. 

When Jesus called His disciples, He said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Jesus’ invitation involved an ongoing process…

“Follow me…”

”I will make you…” 

Following Jesus requires movement. In fact, the term “Christian” is only used 3 times in the Bible. The first time the word “Christian” was used in the Book of Acts to describe those who were following Jesus. 

In Jesus’ time, what it meant to be a disciple was to be one who followed your rabbi closely. You would listen to his teachings, sit at his feet, and learn from him day after day. There was a Jewish blessing that said, “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” And this is still what it looks like to follow Jesus today, it’s a close and constant companionship as a disciple. And disciples don’t take days off.  

The words “disciple” and “discipline” have the same root word, you can’t have one without the other. Anyone who wants to succeed at anything has to be disciplined—whether it’s a business person, a student, or an athlete. And if we really want to build our faith, strengthen our spiritual muscles, and drop the weights that are holding us back, it’s going to require discipline. 

Here’s the good news: As believers, it’s not about willpower, it’s about spiritual power. We have a supernatural God who wants to give us supernatural strength and help turn our discipline into delight. 

Questions: 

1. What does Jesus’ invitation to follow Him mean to you? 
2. How is God’s empowerment different from human willpower? 
3. What do you want to see transformed in your life? 

Prayer: 

God, I want to follow you as a true disciple with no days off. I don’t want to treat you like a new year’s resolution, I want to be transformed by your presence and power every day. Help me to pursue you with discipline and with your strength. Amen.

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