In case you didn't know: The disciple is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian! There are no categories, such as: 1) The Average Christian and 2) The Disciple. Disciples are all of those who have decided to follow Jesus. If you call yourself a Christian...that's you. What does a disciple look like...what is their goal?
Jesus said, (in Matthew)“It is enough for a disciple that he become like his teacher”; and (in Luke) “After he has been fully trained, he will be like his teacher”. Paul wrote (to the Corinthian Church) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
Most Simply, Jesus said:
“Come Follow Me...”
The Struggle is found in one’s whole life is being discipleship...
For Jesus’ twelve disciples, family and occupations were deserted for long periods to go with Jesus as he traveled and did ministry. As they spent time with Him, His character and His ways began to rub-off on them. The mechanics are not the same today, as we cannot literally follow Him in the same way as his first disciples could; but the priorities and intentions, the heart and inner attitudes, of disciples are forever the same. The 12 didn't just want to know what Jesus knew...they wanted to be like Jesus and wanted to learn to do what He did. And while their faith in Jesus was important, so was Jesus' faith in His disciples. He left everything in their hands.
Paul wrote to Timothy "The things I've passed on to you, entrust them to others who will also be qualified to pass it on".
And so here we are, players in the same story; and the person of Jesus is real to us. Our appropriate response is to be His disciples, by spending time with Him in an effort to know Him, to become like Him, and to make Him known to others.
No comments:
Post a Comment