(Part 8 of a series)

This series explores two essential topics: God and people. When children know who God really is and what He says about who they really are, they can confidently navigate faith and life. Kids must know both the Lord and themselves intimately—not superficially.

God matters most. Learning about the Lord is more important (and more rewarding) than anything else we can do!

People matter to God. People who truly grasp what God says about their identity finally understand who they are and how to live.

Sanctification has two sides. From the divine perspective, God sets His disciples apart from the world—to become like Himself. The previous article, “What Is God Doing?” considered God’s role in sanctification. This article focuses on the human side: how disciples grow in holiness by dying to self and living for God. The question, “What Are You Doing?” points directly to how we live as Christians.

“What Are You Doing?”

Short Answer
“You are God’s dauntless disciple.” You pledge allegiance to obey God’s ways.

The Bible compares growing believers to healthy trees that produce good fruit:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33)

To thrive, Christians must stay connected to the source of our sustenance—God’s water of life—the Holy Spirit. As our roots grow deep into Christ, we continue to grow and bear good fruit.

Expanded Answer

Before Moses died, he delivered a final sermon to the nation of Israelites who would soon enter the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership. Moses wanted to make absolutely sure that the people understood what God expected of them. Note the five underlined action verbs that Moses chose:

“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Those words summarize what Israel was to do every day—diligently and dauntlessly. British theologian D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones echoed Moses’ challenge for Christian ears:

“There is one reason, and one reason only, why we should all be sanctified and holy, and it is this: not that we may be happy, nor that we may get rid of our problems, but because God is holy, because we are God’s people and because Christ has died for us, and purchased us. We do not belong to ourselves. We have no right to live a sinful life.” —Great Doctrines of the Bible; volume II – God the Holy Spirit (p. 200), Crossway Books.

Unpacking these five verbs helps us understand what it means to be Jesus’ disciples today:

FEAR. Disciples demonstrate utmost respect; we revere the Lord alone.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:4)

Believers fear the Lord when we display reverence in God Almighty’s presence, when we yield to and carry out God’s Words, when we support and honor our leaders, when we adopt God’s values, and when we heed God’s warnings.

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, For Your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4)

FOLLOW. Disciples develop vital skills; we build faith and bear fruit.

“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4)

This simple P-O-W-E-R acrostic helps us remember what it means to follow Jesus:

P-ray. Call on God from the heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13; 1 John 5:14-15)

O-bey. Submit to God’s loving leadership. (Deuteronomy 28:1; John 14:21)

W-orship. Delight to meet with God. (Psalm 100:1-2; Colossians 3:16)

E-vangelize. Explain the Good News to others. (1 Kings 8:41-43; Acts 1:8)

R-ead. Spend time daily in the Holy Scriptures. (Psalm 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:15)

LOVE. Disciples show passionate affection; we please the Lord first and foremost.

“and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

Jesus taught His followers to love the Lord with hearts that cherish God’s friendship, with souls that grow in godly character, with minds that filter out selfish thoughts, with strength that strives for peak health and pure habits, and with neighbors by treating others just as we hope to be treated.

SERVE. Disciples engage in worthy endeavors; we honor the Lord and help people.

When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:20)

We serve the Lord at home by truly caring for family members, at Church by exalting God together, at school by working hard and honestly, and everywhere we go by investing our time, talents, and treasures in worthy ways.

STAND. Disciples persevere to the very end; we stay strong in the Lord.

He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Christians must never forget that Satan always opposes us. We can learn to stand for the Lord and against evil. We must expect to engage the enemy in ongoing spiritual warfare, always being ready to use our spiritual gifts and personal skills for the glory of God.

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

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So, What Are You Doing? — “You are God’s dauntless disciple.” You pledge allegiance to obey God’s ways. It is your job to fear, follow, love, serve, and stand for the Lord.

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. (Colossians 1:10-12)

Application