Faith Without Action is Dead—Are You Truly Following? | John 21:15

Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are taking a short break from Ecclesiastes to celebrate Easter with some unique devotionals to prepare our hearts for this week in history.

Our text today is John 21:15

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” — John 21:15

More Than Just Belief
The resurrection wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning of a movement.

After Jesus rose, He didn’t just celebrate His victory over death—He commissioned His followers to carry His mission forward. He didn’t just say, “I’m alive!” He said, “Now go.”

He appeared to His disciples, not just to prove He was real, but to call them to action. In John 21, Jesus has an intimate moment with Peter, the man who had denied Him three times. And instead of condemning Peter, Jesus restores him.

But notice what He asks: “Do you love me?”

Not, “Will you try harder?” Not, “Will you be better next time?”

Jesus ties love to action. If Peter truly loves Him, he must feed His sheep—live out his faith, lead others, and spread the message of Christ.

The resurrection calls for more than just belief—it calls for discipleship.

Following Jesus Comes With a Cost
Too many people want a Savior but not a Lord. They want the blessings of Jesus without the burden of obedience.

But Jesus never said, “Believe in me and live comfortably.” He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Following Jesus means:

Surrendering our will to His.
Living with boldness in a world that rejects Him.
Loving others radically even when it’s inconvenient.
Carrying the cross of sacrifice and obedience.
If the resurrection is real, then our lives should reflect it. We cannot claim to follow a risen King and live like He’s still in the grave.

Are You Truly Following?
The call to follow Christ isn’t just for pastors or missionaries—it’s for every believer. You don’t need a pulpit to preach; your life is the sermon.

So ask yourself:

Is my faith just a belief, or does it shape how I live?
Am I willing to surrender comfort, reputation, or even relationships for Jesus?
Am I making disciples, helping others follow Him too?
Because faith without action isn’t real faith (James 2:17). If Jesus is truly Lord, then following Him isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Jesus didn’t restore Peter just to make him feel better—He called him to something greater. And He does the same with us.

The resurrection isn’t just an event to celebrate; it’s a reality that should transform how we live. If Jesus conquered death, then He is worthy of our complete surrender. If He is truly Lord, then obedience isn’t a burden—it’s our joy.

So today, don’t just believe—follow. Feed His sheep. Live boldly. Love sacrificially. And carry your cross, knowing that the One who rose from the grave walks with you every step of the way.

#RisenKing #FaithInAction #FollowJesus

ASK THIS:
How does Jesus' question to Peter challenge your understanding of love and obedience?
What areas of your life show that you are truly following Jesus, not just believing in Him?
What sacrifices are you willing to make to follow Christ daily?
How can you "feed His sheep" in your own sphere of influence?
DO THIS:
Live out your faith daily by serving, discipling, and boldly proclaiming Christ.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, help me to love You not just in words, but in action. Give me the courage to follow You boldly, surrender completely, and serve faithfully. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
The Jesus Way.