On Rounds with Jesus

Tag: devotional

  • Action and Reaction

    Action and Reaction

    Scripture reading: John 12:20—26

    You can listen to this devotional here:

    Scientific laws are irrefutable truths, tried, tested, and proven over time, that describe the physical world we live in. Newton’s laws of motion are among the most familiar examples. This year, we have been exploring spiritual truths by linking them to these laws of the natural world.

    In Inertia, we confronted the heart’s resistance to movement—the tendency to remain at rest even when Jesus calls us forward. Comfort disguised as faithfulness. Stillness mistaken for obedience.

    In Newton’s Second Law, we examined the forces that act against movement: the weight of fear, distraction, obligation, and attachment. We learned that even when the desire to follow Jesus is present, these weights can slow acceleration and stall progress.

    Today, we arrive at Newton’s Third Law—Action and Reaction.

    Newton’s Third Law tells us that motion is always the result of interaction: ‘For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction’. When a swimmer pushes water backwards, the water pushes the swimmer forward. When a gun is fired, the bullet moves forward, and the gun recoils backwards with equal force. A rocket is propelled upward only because it pushes gases downward at high speed. An action without a reaction produces no movement, only effort without progress.

    This law shows us something crucial: no object gains momentum in isolation. Momentum is built through relationship. When you walk, your foot pushes backwards against the ground, and the ground pushes forward against you, propelling you ahead. In the same way, when we move toward Jesus, He meets us in that movement. Our obedience is answered with His presence. Our surrender is met with grace. Our weakness is met with strength.

    At times, the call to discipleship can feel draining, like a seed falling into the ground and dying. But be assured: you are not losing at all. In physics, total momentum is conserved because every action has a reaction. Momentum does not disappear; it is transferred. Spiritually, obedience is never wasted. Every step you take toward God changes something—within you and beyond you. Your movement creates ripple effects.

    Jesus says, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” Growth can be gruelling. Obedience can be costly. But maturity is not optional—it is the standard we are called toward.

    At its core, today’s scripture speaks about sacrifice. Sacrifice is the giving up of something valuable (like time, comfort, resources, even life) for a higher purpose. A disciple must be willing to lose to gain. This is the wheel around which obedience turns. This is what it means to follow.

    And what gain it is.

    “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour.”

    Reflection

    Momentum in the Christian life is not built by intensity, but by relationship.

    How can you improve your relationship with Christ through dedicated prayer times, word-study and fellowship?

    Each step toward Christ invites His response. No act of faith is wasted. No sacrifice goes unnoticed. As you reflect today, consider what small, faithful action God may be inviting you to take, not to prove your devotion, but to deepen your walk with Him.

    Prayer

    Lord Jesus, I lay my life before You—my plans, my fears, my desires, and my comforts.
    I surrender my will to Yours, trusting that every step I take toward You is met by Your presence and Your power.
    Teach me to move with You, not by striving alone, but by trusting Your response in every act of obedience.
    Take my hands, my feet, my heart, and use them as You will, even when the path feels uncertain or costly.
    Let my surrender become momentum—a force that carries life, grace, and Your love to others.
    I give You all of me today, Lord, not holding back, not clinging to control, but trusting completely that where You are, I will also be.
    Amen.

  • Inertia

    Inertia

    Scripture reading: Luke 9:57–62

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    In physics, inertia is the tendency of an object to resist change, to stay at rest or keep moving in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. Spiritually, inertia looks like knowing what God asks of us, yet remaining unmoved. We believe, but delay. We agree, but do not act. Faith stalls when comfort becomes stronger than conviction.

    Jesus confronts spiritual inertia directly in this week’s reading. In Luke 9, several people express willingness to follow Him, but always with delay. One wants to first bury his father. Another wants to say goodbye at home. None of these requests sounds sinful per se, yet Jesus responds with striking urgency: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

    Their problem was not refusal, but hesitation. They felt the pull of comfort, tradition, and unfinished business. Like many of us, they intended to follow, but not immediately.

    Spiritual inertia often disguises itself as responsibility or timing. We tell ourselves we will obey once things settle down, once we feel ready, once life is less demanding. But Jesus calls for movement now. The kingdom advances through responsive hearts, not postponed ones.

    God’s grace is the force that breaks inertia. His Spirit empowers us to move, but obedience must meet that grace. When we respond, even imperfectly, momentum begins, and God’s power carries us forward. Like a parked car on a hill, it takes effort to start pushing it, but once it moves, even a gentle push keeps it rolling. Obedience works the same way. The first step is often the hardest. Yet that step invites God’s power to carry us forward.

    This year, your charge is to move – take that first step in faith!

    Reflection

    • Where have you grown comfortable instead of obedient?
    • What instruction from God have you delayed acting on?
    • What one small step can you take today to break spiritual inertia?

    Do not wait for perfect motivation. Act on present obedience.

    Prayer

    Lord, I confess the places where I have grown still when You called me to move. Break every spiritual inertia in my heart. Give me courage to obey promptly and faith to trust You with the outcome. Let Your Spirit be the force that moves me from intention to action. Amen.

    Closing Thought

    Faith that moves, even slowly, pleases God more than faith that only agrees. Today, choose movement. Even a step matters.

  • Stone or bread

    Stone or bread

    In clinical practice, patients often come with expectations, preferences, or even self-diagnoses. A client may ask for a particular test, drug, or procedure. But as a clinician, you know that their request may not always be in their best interest. Your role is to listen with compassion, then guide them toward what is safe, effective, and ultimately for their good—even if it’s different from what they initially wanted.

    Parents deal with something similar. My toddler loves to pick up things—some safe, some harmful. She may cry, protest, or throw a tantrum when I take away what she wants, but part of my role as a parent is to know what is truly good for her. I will never hand her something that would hurt her, no matter how hard she pleads. Love sometimes means saying no.

    This is the heart of Matthew 7:7–11. Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock—and assures us that our Father in heaven will answer. But like toddlers with their parents, or patients with their clinicians, we don’t always know what is best for us. God, however, does. God, in His wisdom, sometimes says no or wait, not because He is withholding good from us, but because He is protecting us from harm or preparing us for something better. He is the Father who never gives a stone when we ask for bread, or a snake when we ask for fish. He may not always give us exactly what we want, but He always gives us what is good.

    So whether in parenting, in medicine, or in our walk with God, love is not about granting every request—it is about providing what brings life, growth, and true blessing. And we can trust that our heavenly Father, far wiser and kinder than any earthly parent or clinician, will always do just that.

    Applications

    1. Trust God’s wisdom – When God answers differently than we expected, remind yourself that His love always seeks your good.
    2. Practice discernment in prayer – Instead of only asking for what you want, also pray: “Lord, give me what You know is best.”
    3. Patience in waiting – Just as a child eventually sees why the parent withheld something, we too may only understand God’s “no” in hindsight.

    Reflections

    • Can I recall a time when God did not give me what I prayed for, but later I saw it was for my good?
    • In what ways do I need to trust His wisdom more deeply right now?
    • How can I model God’s loving discernment in how I guide others under my care?

    Let us pray

    Heavenly Father, thank You for being wiser than my desires and more loving than my understanding. Forgive me when I confuse Your no or wait for neglect. Teach me to trust that You always give good gifts, even when they look different from what I asked for. Help me reflect Your wisdom and love in the way I guide others—whether as a parent, a professional, or a friend. May my life bear witness to the truth that You are a good Father who gives not stones or snakes, but bread and fish. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Changes

    Changes

    Scripture reading: Luke 15:11-32

    If there’s one constant about being human, it’s that we change. Change is what makes us alive. We are wired with an insatiable need to grow, to move, to become.

    Change begins when you recognise that where you are is not where you should remain. That realisation is your signal—it’s time to move.

    Take the prodigal son. He squandered the opportunities his father gave him. He wasted away his fortune until he had nothing left. It seemed over. That was the time to give up, to settle with the pigs. But he didn’t settle. He realised his present situation was not meant to be his permanent situation. He knew where he ought to be. And so, he made the journey back to his father. And oh, how his father embraced him for that turnaround!

    It’s your turn. What changes do you need to make in your life? What steps do you need to take? And when will you take them?

    We’ve all made a mess or two in our lifetimes—because humans are messy. But God is ever merciful. His grace is enough for you today. Tomorrow? It’s not promised. The only time you truly have is now. Make that change today.

    Reflections

    • Change starts with awareness – Like the prodigal son, I must first recognise that my current situation is not where I am meant to remain.
    • Change begins with honesty – I must be willing to face the truth about where I am falling short, whether spiritually, emotionally, or in my daily habits
    • Small steps matter – Real growth often comes not from giant leaps but from consistent, intentional steps toward improvement
    • My present is not my permanent – Just because I’m in a mess now doesn’t mean God intends for me to stay there (Jeremiah 29:11).
    • Grace makes change possible – No matter how far I’ve gone, God’s mercy welcomes me back when I turn to Him (Lamentations 3:22-23).
    • Delay is dangerous – Tomorrow isn’t promised, so I must act on what God is prompting me to do today (James 4:14).
    • Change requires steps – It’s not just about realisation; it’s about movement. Like the prodigal son, I must rise and go (Luke 15:20).

    Prayer

    Father, thank You for Your endless mercy and patience with me. I know there are many areas of my life where I need change—my thoughts, my words, my habits, my relationships, my priorities. Lord, shine Your light on the places in me that must be surrendered to You. Give me wisdom to see clearly, courage to act faithfully, and strength to walk in obedience. Help me not to postpone what You are calling me to improve today. May every change I make draw me closer to You and reflect Your goodness in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.