Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia.”— Acts 20:18 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

When Paul gathered the Ephesian elders for a final farewell, he didn’t point to his sermons or his miracles. He reminded them of his presence. “You know how I lived among you,” he said. His ministry wasn’t something he performed from a distance—it was life shared up close.

That’s where discipleship truly happens. Paul learned it from Jesus Himself, who didn’t train His followers in a classroom but walked with them daily. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed twelve so that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Before sending them, Jesus spent time with them. Presence came before purpose.

In our fast-paced, digital world, it’s easy to replace presence with posts, and connection with convenience. But real disciple-making requires time—conversations at the table, prayers in the living room, service side by side. It’s a messy process, much like life itself. You can’t shape lives from a distance. You have to show up, stay close, and live out the gospel where people can see it.

Paul’s example reminds us that discipleship isn’t a weekly event—it’s a daily investment. The most powerful lessons are not what we say but how we live.

Reflection Questions

1. Who in your life has discipled you through their consistent presence?

2. How can you intentionally spend more time walking beside someone in faith this week?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me that true discipleship begins with presence. Teach me to walk closely with others the way You did with Your disciples. Help me to slow down, be present, and invest my life in people who need to see Your love lived out daily. Amen.