Have you ever tried teaching someone who’s already convinced they know it all? Maybe it’s a friend who claims to be a great cook but burns every meal, or a coworker who confidently skips the instructions—only to spend twice as long fixing their mistakes. It's frustrating because they’re not just resistant to help—they’re unteachable.
Now imagine Jesus trying to shape our hearts and lives while we nod along, thinking, “Yeah, I’ve got this discipleship thing down.”
What if the greatest obstacle to following Jesus isn’t our sin, our doubts, or even our struggles—but the quiet certainty that we already know what we're doing?
The Quiet Trap of Certainty
There’s a hidden danger in thinking we’ve mastered the life of faith. When we believe we already know what it means to follow Jesus, we stop listening, stop seeking, stop growing. We fall into the trap of familiarity, assuming the basics—love your neighbor, say your prayers, go to church—are the whole picture.
But discipleship isn’t a checklist; it’s a living, dynamic relationship with Jesus. Like any relationship, it requires intentionality, openness, and maturity. When we assume we’ve arrived, we shut ourselves off from what Jesus still wants to show us. The result? A faith that’s stuck, comfortable, and ultimately shallow.
When Knowledge Becomes a Blindfold
Think of the Pharisees. They were the religious elite, the experts of Scripture. They believed they understood God better than anyone—and that confidence blinded them. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath or welcomed tax collectors and prostitutes, they couldn’t see him for who he was. Their knowledge, rather than opening their eyes, became a blindfold.
Are we really that different?
When we say things like, “I know how to be a good Christian,” do we miss Jesus calling us to forgive someone who deeply hurt us? To serve in places that make us uncomfortable? To take risks in faith instead of clinging to control?
The more certain we are, the more likely we are to overlook the radical, disruptive, and deeply personal ways Jesus wants to transform us.
The Danger of a Static Faith
The real danger of this mindset isn’t just spiritual stagnation—it’s spiritual deafness.
Jesus is not a figure from the past. He is the Risen King, still speaking, still guiding, still calling. But if we’re stuck in “I’ve got this” mode, we reduce him to a concept instead of a present Lord. We stop listening, stop wrestling, stop being changed.
What if Jesus wants to teach us a new way to love our neighbors, a deeper way to trust him, or a fresh call to courage—and we’re too busy reciting old lessons to hear him?
Staying Teachable
Here’s the hope: Jesus doesn’t give up on us when we act like we know it all. He’s patient. He invites us again and again to drop our pride, open our ears, and follow him afresh.
That kind of openness begins with humility—acknowledging that no matter how long we’ve been walking with him, we haven’t arrived. There’s always more to learn, more to unlearn, and more of him to discover.
So here’s a simple practice: Ask Jesus, “What do you want to teach me today?” Then be still. Pay attention. Let him surprise you.
The Challenge
Next time you find yourself coasting—relying on what you already know about faith—pause. Ask: Am I really listening to Jesus, or just running the same old playbook?
Discipleship isn’t about having the perfect formula. It’s about staying teachable.
Because the moment we think we’ve got Jesus figured out… is probably the moment we’ve stopped following him at all.
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