Jesus Says…A 30 Day Devotional

Introduction

When I was in grade school, I remember playing “Simon Says,” a simple game designed to teach the skills of listening and following directions. The game may be called something different, depending on where you live. The leader gives a series of commands which the listeners are to follow. The one basic rule is to only follow the commands that begin with the phrase “Simon says…,” i.e., “Simon says pat your head” or “Simon says clap your hands.” If a command like “Stomp your feet” is given, Simon didn’t say to stomp your feet, so the listeners are not to follow that order.

I want you to keep that simple game of listening and following in mind throughout this 30-day adventure.

Whenever people gather, there are rules or understandings in place. For instance, the military has standing orders. Businesses have standard procedures. Families have established rules of conduct and expectations. Jesus gave His followers something similar. Jesus said the following in Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB95):

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

English translations of the Bible seem to put the emphasis on the word “go” since it comes across as a command. A look at the original language, however, paints a slightly different picture. The verb going is a state of being. The command, the imperative verb, is “make disciples.” This order is followed by the activities of making disciples through baptism and instruction. This passage could be rephrased in this way: “Make disciples everywhere you go, baptizing them and teaching them to follow all that I commanded you.” This command is our standing order, our standard practice, our family rule and expectation.

But what commands is Jesus addressing? What commands are we to teach followers of Jesus to observe? What other imperative commands did Jesus give His followers? This devotional adventure walks through thirty such commands of Jesus found in the Gospel accounts.

Thirty commands may seem like a lot to remember when you consider God only gave Moses Ten Commandants. But as John wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3, NASB95). I’ll tell you a little secret: all of Jesus’ commands are in some way an expression of the greatest commandment, which is to love God with everything we are and to love our neighbor.

Are you ready to step into this thirty-day adventure of following Jesus? Fantastic!

This devotional book is available as a free PDF download.