Impulsiveness or Discipleship               [return to devotional list]

"But the fruit of the Spirit is patience ... and self-control"

(Gal. 5:22-23)

There is nothing impulsive about Jesus. There was never once a thoughtless action about the Lord, only calm resolve in every situation. Most of us develop our faith along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God's nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life or the immature life. Our Lord always ignores it. Why? Because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple.

Watch how the Spirit of God imparts a sense of restraint in the moment of impulsiveness; He suddenly brings a feeling of self-consciousness and foolishness. Impulsiveness is understandable among children, but an impulsive adult is disastrous.

Impulsiveness is often labeled passionate when it should be recognized as simple foolishness. Peter walked on water, but "he followed Jesus at a distance" on dry land (Mark 14:54). Faith can be a miraculous moment. However, faith is most frequently an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. Peter could walk on water but he couldn't follow Jesus to the cross. 

It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God - but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy in the ordinary places, among ordinary people. This is not achieved in five minutes.

Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline. Impulsive faith becomes disciplined faith through training. God's classroom is your everyday life.

Did you like this devotion? Send it to a friend.