And yet, and yet…

Discipleship is returning the weights to the rack.

Recently I started attending a gym, trying to get back into a rhythm of good exercise. As everyone knows, this is an uphill battle. While your mind tells you that it’s a good thing for you to be lifting weights, your heart wonders if it might be better to be sleeping or eating a candy bar.

But when lifting, we grow stronger, we push ourselves to the limits, we challenge our weaknesses to allow them to grow stronger. But the funny thing about a gym: it’s amazing how many people will be there working out, and how few return the weights to the rack.

This is not a judgment on those that leave the weights out. The other day I did something called a Romanian deadlift (ugh) and was exhausted at the end of it. And yet, the lift and exercise wasn’t done at the end of the set. It was finished when I hefted (OK, rolled) the weights back over the rack and panting slid them back into place. There were no thank yous, no attaboys, just tired muscles.

When it comes to discipleship, we often focus in on our personal gains and the places where we deny ourselves. We place the emphasis on our actions, our growth of knowledge, our sacrifice. And absolutely, discipleship (defined as growing as a student and follower of Christ) includes these aspects. A discipleship that is not characterized by self-challenge is not discipleship.

And yet, discipleship doesn’t end with you.

It moves beyond, to serve and set the table for those who are next. Ephesians 4:11-14 spells it out clearly, “And he [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the teachers, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

Discipleship is returning the shopping cart.

Discipleship is making the bed.

Discipleship is putting gas in the car for your spouse, even when you’re on a tight schedule.

Discipleship is picking up your cross and following Jesus, growing into maturity to live like he did.

So when it comes to your practice of faith, absolutely do the work. Learn the Scriptures. Worship with all your heart. Attend and participate in churches. Spend your quiet times and devotional times with Jesus.

But go beyond just your personal training to serve and prepare the way for others. Jesus did the work of the practice of his faith and also equipped others to serve, even in things beyond what he did when he was among them (John 14:12). Serve those in need, care about those who struggle in their faith, pray with each other. Go the extra mile for the sake of Christ, not just creating a resume or workout routine that brings pride, but pouring yourself out for the sake of the Kingdom just as Jesus did.

And when you ask where the energy will come from, remember that our God isn’t about filling vessels, but in causing them to overflow. His desire is not to make you the best version of yourself so that you can take pride in what you’ve done. His desire is to electrify your life that you may be a walking wonder of what Christ done in the world.

Discipleship is returning the weights. Let’s ask the Lord to strengthen our hands for the day’s work.

Signs and wonders, y’all.

 ⁷ Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7-10 (ESV)