A rather pompous-looking Sunday school teacher was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. So, he asked them, “Why do people call me a Christian?” After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”
Ouch. You’ve got to love the innocence of children! That child’s words speak to the heart of what being a disciple is all about.
The need for genuine disciples is paramount. Consider the words of Vlad Savchuk: “The pandemic that happens in Christianity today is believers who don’t become disciples. “
One of the best places to learn how to be a genuine disciple is to absorb the words of Jesus. Consider His statements from the following verses.
- Matthew 10:24-25
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (Matthew 10:24,25a ESV)
A disciple is one who strives to be like Jesus.
- John 8:31.
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’”
A disciple is one who holds to Jesus’ Teaching.
- John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love for one another.”
Jesus said it. A disciple is one who loves others.
- John 15:8
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples.”
A disciple is one who bears much fruit
- Luke 14:26
“If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple”.
A disciple is one who puts Jesus first.
- Luke 14:27
Here, Jesus says: “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”.
A disciple is one who denies himself.
I close with a quote from Gracia Burnham, who was a missionary to the Philippines and whose husband was martyred. She said, “Either you believe it all, or you don’t believe it at all.” What a great definition of a disciple. Being a disciple means you are all in. Where are you in your journey with Christ? Are you all in or do you believe only to the point of which you are comfortable stopping short of being a genuine disciple? Will you be His disciple?
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