5 REASONS WE DON’T MAKE DISCIPLES – #5: TO BE HONEST, I JUST CAN’T WANT TO

“If you want to change, you must be willing to be uncomfortable.”

– Author Unknown

TO BE HONEST…

My friend’s toddler was an obedient little fellow. But one day when she asked him to do something especially difficult, he shook his head and wailed, “No-no-no! I can’t want to!” But then, marshaling every bit of willpower he possessed, he proceeded to do exactly what she asked.

Pretty profound stuff for a two-year-old.

Because as every grown-up two-year-old knows—that’s often the heart of the problem. 

We just can’t WANT to!

Try as we might, we struggle with the embarrassing fact that our “want to” doesn’t always line up with what God says we “ought to.” Things like Bible reading, praying, fasting, serving, giving, evangelizing, and yep, you guessed it—discipling.

If we’re gut-level honest…

Sometimes we’re just not feelin’ it.

So we skulk around like a kid without our homework, hoping against hope the “Teacher” won’t call on us.

A GIFT WRAPPED IN A COMMAND

Yet lately I’ve come to realize that every thou shalt in the Bible is actually a gift wrapped in a command.

Come again?

Let me rephrase that.

Each of God’s commands contains a hidden gift—

and obedience is how we unwrap it.

Here are a few examples…

COMMAND: Be grateful.  GIFT: Encouragement, renewed focus, resilience.

COMMAND: Don’t lie.  GIFT: Peace of mind, self-respect, being trusted by others.

COMMAND: Don’t work on Sunday.  GIFT: Renewal, rest, weekly “reset” button.

COMMAND: Make disciples.  GIFT: Accelerated growth, connection, legacy.

TASTE AND SEE

Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

When we bump up against a big wall of can’t want to, the only path to the other side is trusting our Abba enough to take a risk. Like a child who hates veggies, we must be willing to try the broccoli. We must taste and see.

Of course, we can always refuse to obey. We can hold back. Yet if we do, we take an even bigger risk. We risk missing out on the reward of an overflowing life, the adventure of bringing the God’s kingdom to earth, and the wholehearted “well done” of our Heavenly Father when we see Him face to face.

Yet all it takes to obey is inching your way forward one simple-yet-intentional cup of coffee at a time. I hope you’ll decide to a take a risk and choose the “taste and see” option.

‘Cuz I’m telling you right now.

It’s pretty yummy delicious!