It is possible to know a lot about Jesus without actually becoming more like Jesus. We can listen to sermons, read books, highlight our Bibles, watch Christian content, and still avoid the uncomfortable work of obedience.

My father had an incredible gift for memorizing Scripture. Every morning, as he drove my siblings and me to school, he would have one of us hold his Bible while he recited Scripture. Not just verses. Not just chapters. Books of the Bible from beginning to end.

Looking back, I realize that God used those ordinary car rides to put His Word in me. But my father wasn’t simply teaching me to memorize Scripture. He was showing me that Scripture was worth knowing because Scripture reveals the God we are called to follow.

That distinction matters for our families. We don’t want children who simply know Bible stories. We want our children to know Jesus and respond to His Word with obedience.

So when Jesus says forgive, we forgive. When He says serve, we serve. When He says love our enemies, we love them. When He calls us to generosity, we give. When He tells us to pray, we pray.

And when we fail, we come back to the gospel. Our obedience does not earn God’s love. Christ has already secured our acceptance. We obey because we belong to Him.

Try this today: Choose one thing Jesus has commanded that you know but haven’t practiced. Make it specific, and obey Him today.