“Duck Dynasty” star John Luke Robertson spoke at Top Nazarene Talent at Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) in April, encouraging Christians to remember God’s sovereign purpose for their lives and to use the opportunities that we are given for His glory.
John Luke is the eldest son of Willie and Korie Robertson, prominent members of A&E’s hit reality show “Duck Dynasty.” The seventeen-year-old is close with his family, and has recently developed an increased love for hunting. John Luke is somewhat of a heartthrob among teenagers, and was greeted with screams from young women in the TNU audience.
John Like began his speech with Psalm 139: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb” (English Standard Version, Pslam 139:13).
“We were all made for something. God knitted us together – He made your structure, your frame, He made your foundation and how you were built, and everyone was built for something different,” said the young man. John Luke proceeded to recount several unsuccessful attempts he had made to play different sports, admitting that he was not quite built for many of them. “I point to all of that and say that you have to be made for it,” he said; he then transitioned to Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
John Luke and Sadie show their patriotism on the Fourth of July. (Photo: AETV, Courtesy of Korie Robertson)
“God’s got it planned out. We have to follow it … to trust what we’ve been given,” said the teen, reminding believers that God has created and fashioned us for His good purposes. “’Duck Dynasty’ has given me and Sadie this platform … to share this with you,” he said. John Luke believes that God had prepared him to tell others of His glory when he was growing up, dreading the frequent speaking roles that he was given in youth group events.
The young man is comforted by knowing that “God has given me what I need and what I have to share His message and to use what I’ve been given for His glory,” he said. He quoted Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” – the task that every Christian has been given by our Father. “The challenge we’ve been given to share the Gospel and to go forth and make disciples of all nations – that is what we need to be focusing on,” he said.
John Luke ended his speech with a challenge to students to be purposeful on their sports teams and in student clubs, wherever God has gifted them to share His glory. “You’ve been put in that situation for a reason – and the reason is to glorify God. To humble yourselves and glorify God. And to show others why you’re Christians and why you live for Him,” he said.
John Luke told TC Magazine that he signs his autograph with John 3:16 and Luke 9:23 –
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’”
Through the “Duck Dynasty” platform, John Luke hopes to show unbelievers who watch the show that “you can love God and read your Bible and pray and memorize verses and still be a normal person.” The young man hopes to attend Harding College and is considering going into business and preaching.
