Have you ever listened to a sermon that really challenged you? You left feeling encouraged, even telling yourself, "I really needed that." Then a few weeks later, life carried on as normal. Someone cuts in front of you on the highway without indicating properly, and the same old Ashley comes out, yelling things we'd rather not repeat here.

Or perhaps you've highlighted a Bible verse that spoke deeply to you. You've even shared it with someone else because you thought they needed to hear it too. Yet when you look back, you realise the verse changed your perspective in that moment, but it never really changed the way you lived.

I think if we're honest, most of us have been there. Me too, unfortunately.

We live at a time when God's Word has never been more accessible. We can listen to sermons on the way to work, read the Bible on our phones, and watch pastors from anywhere in the world.

None of that is a bad thing. In fact, it's a privilege.

But all that access can also make something easy to miss.

We can become so good at consuming biblical content that we mistake being inspired or feeling blessed for being reborn. We finish a sermon feeling challenged. We close our Bible feeling encouraged. We scroll past something that speaks to us and save it for later.

Yet if nothing changes in us when we put the phone down, close the Bible, or leave church on Sunday, we've missed the very purpose of God's Word.

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He washed His disciples' feet. It was an extraordinary act of humility from the very person they called Lord and Teacher. When He finished, Jesus told them that He had given them an example. What they had just seen Him do for them, they were now expected to do for others.

Then He said: "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17)

There is something so simple but important in those words. Jesus knew His disciples understood the lesson. But understanding it wasn't enough. They would have to put it into practice.

That's where following Jesus becomes more than simply knowing what the Bible says.

We can know what He teaches about serving others and still put ourselves first. We can know what the Bible says about sexual immorality and continue crossing boundaries we know are wrong. We can know what the Bible says about judging others and still make up an entire story about someone based on one thing we saw them do. We can know we're called to love people and still treat someone badly simply because we don't like them. We can know all the right verses and still make choices that go against them.

At some point, what we know has to change how we live. Otherwise, we're only learning about following Jesus without actually following Him.

James takes this even further. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

Notice who James says we're deceiving if we merely listen to the word. Not other people. Ourselves. That's what makes this so dangerous. We can mistake knowing the word with faithfulness.

We know what the Bible says about forgiveness, but still refuse to forgive that family member or friend who took away something we would never get back. We know Jesus tells us not to worry, yet fear continues to drive the decisions we make. We know we should treat people with love, but knowing those things and living our lives in accordance is not always the same.

The most difficult part of following Jesus has never been understanding His commands. It's surrendering to them.

It's one thing to know Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It's another thing to pray for someone whose lies cost you your job.

It's one thing to know the Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow. It's another thing to trust God when an unexpected bill comes and the numbers simply don't add up.

It's one thing to know Jesus tells us to make things right with someone we've hurt. It's another thing to apologize without adding, "but you also..."

It's one thing to know the Bible tells us to trust God’s timing. It's another thing to keep trusting Him when another birthday passes and the life you've prayed for is still a dream.

It's one thing to know Jesus tells us to love others. It's another thing to show kindness to someone who has no influence, connection, or ability to do anything for you in return.

Following Jesus often becomes difficult when obedience starts costing us something.

Decide what you're going to do differently. When something in God's Word challenges you, don't let it end with “I needed to hear that.” Think about where it shows up in your life and make a change. If it's gossip, politely excuse yourself when they start. If it's sexual temptation, stop putting yourself in situations that make it harder to say no. If it's anger, learn to walk away and calm down before you say something you'll regret.

Start with one thing. If something you read in the Bible shows you several things you need to change, don't try to do everything at once. You wouldn't walk into a gym for the first time and try to lift every weight in the room. Pick one thing, work on it, and when you're doing better, move on to the next.

Keep working on it when you get it wrong. Following God's Word doesn't mean you'll suddenly get everything right. You may lose your temper again, or pride may get the best of you sometimes. Don't let one bad moment be the reason you give up. Ask God to forgive you, learn from the mistake, and keep trying to do better the next time.

Imagine someone buying the best cookbook in the world. They read every recipe from beginning to end. They highlight their favourite recipes. They even know the ingredients by heart. But they never step into the kitchen.

No matter how much they admire the recipes, they'll never know what the food tastes like.

God didn't give us His Word just to read and remember. He gave it to shape the way we live.

The Bible only changes our lives when what it says starts shaping the choices we make. When generosity becomes something we practise. When loving people becomes something we genuinely do. When we choose what God says even when others don't agree.

Knowing what the Bible says is important. But following Jesus begins when what we know starts changing what we do.

You can highlight every verse in your Bible and still ignore what it says when it gets hard.

The goal isn't just to know God's Word by heart. It's to let God's Word take root in your heart and show up in your life.

✝ Kingdom Mantra

Did anything come to mind today that you know you need to start putting into practice? Hit reply to this email or leave a comment if you’re reading on our website. I would love to hear from you and pray with you. God bless you and do have a great week ahead. ❤️