Those who knew him (directly or indirectly) would attest that Professor Willard modeled well what it can mean to progress over time into a kind of person who would naturally and routinely exhibit much of the nature of the Lord Jesus. Willard, ever a trainee himself and no stranger to challenges of his own along the way, subscribed, with a robust and warm-hearted tenacity, to a foundational conviction. A truth grounded in Scripture and advanced among apprentices to Jesus across the centuries:
“A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do.”
This kind of conviction calls for embarking on a rigorous, adventurous (and as it commonly turns out, utterly satisfying) journey into training.
Among the more weighty (and worthy) thoughts for any image-bearer to ponder may be the following – also penned by the esteemed USC professor.
“The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity.”*
©2025 Jerry Lout *Dallas Willard *dwillard.org