One Day At A Time

Discipleship is lived out in the ordinary.

"Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction." - Eugene Peterson

I was recently at the funeral of a family friend. Robert was a godly Christian man, full of wisdom and Christlike character. During the pastor’s meditation, he stated that Robert lived out his faith—his love for Jesus—without gaps. Robert was not a Sunday Christian when others were looking; he lived out his faith in Jesus at work on Mondays, at the family dinner table on Tuesdays, while cutting the grass on Wednesdays, at the shopping mall on Thursdays, at the gym on Fridays and at the cottage on Saturdays. Robert lived out his love for the Lord and others in the ordinary spaces of life.

Driving home after the celebration of life, I pondered the pastor’s insightful homily about the all-encompassing nature of Robert’s discipleship. There were truly no gaps in the tangible outward practice of his faith. What wasn’t included in the pastor’s message was the fact that Robert also lived out his faith in Jesus when he was mistreated, when he was overlooked for a promotion at work, when his kids were going through rough times, when he made a mistake or failed at something, when his wife Jackie died or when he himself became seriously ill. Robert’s love for Jesus and others was a constant in the daily grind of life.

Think about the famous patriarchs of the Old Testament and the heroes of the New Testament. All of them made significant impacts on the matter of our current Christian faith. And yet, what we have recorded of them accomplishing in the Bible are only a small portion of their lives. They lived the vast majority of their lives doing common things, living out their faith in the everyday routines of their lives. There were no gaps in their devotion to God. Yes, they made moral gaffes, but they remained in faith to the Lord.

Consider the life of the Old Testament character Enoch. “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:21-24). “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). Enoch walked faithfully with God; there was no gap in his devotion to God.

Think about our more current Christian heroes like Martin Luther, Charles H. Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, and Timothy Keller. These believers were giants of faith who accomplished amazing feats to advance the Kingdom of God. However, their incredible accomplishments recorded in historical records only account for a small portion of their discipleship. Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the Wittenberg Cathedral door and began a worldwide Christian reformation. Charles H. Spurgeon was an incredible preacher and writer whose words are often quoted by modern preachers and writers. Billy Graham is known for his gospel crusades that witnessed countless people coming to faith in Jesus. Mother Teresa is known as the greatest example of servanthood to the poor and dying. Timothy Keller is likely the most impactful theologian, pastor and apologist of the 21st century. All of these towering giants of our faith lived life without a gap in their devotion to the Lord. They lived out the lion’s share of their lives in the everyday spaces of life.

Spiritual formation into Christlikeness never happens in a flash of time or with a huge success in one’s faith practice. Those Christians whom we aspire to emulate live out their faith in the daily grind—in trouble and triumph—dying to self and surrendering themselves to the Holy Spirit’s sanctification in their lives. There is no gap in their discipleship journey. They quite simply wake up each morning postured to live for Jesus.

“One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you
Just give me the strength
To do every day what I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today
Show me the way one day at a time.”

Wilkin and Kristofferson

 Philip A. Gunther