Are You Passing the Test of Discipleship?

Jesus was once asked a simple question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?” His answer was profound and sweeping: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Matthew 22:37).

We talk often about loving God with our hearts—our emotions, our affections, our worship. We talk about loving Him with our strength—our hands, our work, our energy. But what about loving God with our minds? What does that look like?

Disciples Are Students

The word disciple literally means “learner.” At the core of following Jesus is a posture of being a student—someone who never graduates from the school of faith. To love God with your mind means opening yourself to His Word, seeking to understand it, and allowing His truth to reshape the way you think.

Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transformation begins not with feelings or actions but with letting God’s truth rewire the patterns of our minds through his Word.

This is why time in Scripture, reflection on truth, and even wrestling with hard questions matters so much. Christianity is not blind faith; it is thoughtful, informed, truth-driven faith. When you study God’s Word, you’re learning to see the world as He sees it.

Students Become Servants

But here’s the danger: knowledge can easily stop at the head. Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 8:1 that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Loving God with your mind isn’t about stockpiling Bible facts or winning theological debates. It’s about learning in order to love. Strive to know God’s truth so you can live God’s truth.

That’s why loving God with your mind naturally flows into serving Him with your life. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet in John 13 not to impress them but to teach them. He wanted them to see that true knowledge of God always expresses itself in humble, sacrificial service.

In other words, students who truly learn from Jesus will inevitably become servants who live like Jesus.

Are You Ready for the Test?

Think about it this way: every classroom has a final exam. The “exam” of discipleship isn’t how much Scripture you can quote but how much Scripture you obey. When you learn from Jesus, the test comes in your relationships, your workplace, your neighborhood, your church. Do you serve? Do you give? Do you forgive?

If your study of God’s Word leads you to serve your spouse with greater humility, to show kindness to a difficult coworker, to step into a ministry role at church, or to share the gospel with a neighbor—you’re passing the test.

So commit yourself to being a lifelong student of Jesus, engaging your mind with His Word day by day. But remember, students don’t sit in the classroom forever. We’re called to step into the world as servants, letting what we’ve learned shape how we live.

When you love Jesus with your mind, you learn his truth. When you love him with your life, you serve others with that truth. And when both come together, the world sees a living picture of Jesus.