Disciples       2019-004

What is a disciple?  A follower of Jesus Christ who decides it is more important to follow Him and that takes precedence over all other things.  Sounds strict, direct, committing, or very definitive.

A disciple tries to act like and look like the one they are following, namely, Jesus Christ.  Being a disciple means submitting oneself to Jesus and becoming part of the spiritual development process in learning to live all of your life in this submission to Him.  The key here is the word “submit”. Another word could be to surrender oneself to Him.

Being a disciple of Jesus requires us to also strive to make disciples of others, teaching them to observe all that Jesus taught to His original disciples of his time. Sort of like “sharing” the news…..

I have found it is NOT easy to be a disciple, but easier to call oneself a disciple of Jesus Christ. Just like it is normal for many to call themselves a Christian, but where they do not practice at being one.  

The journey to get closer to God has many pathways with stumbling blocks in the way, at times. If I go to church, that fact does NOT make me a disciple of Jesus. If I do community service work, that fact does not make me a disciple either. 

Once more; submitting to Jesus Christ and involving oneself in the spiritual development of learning to live the life in the submission to Jesus is the path to becoming a disciple.  Just stating that I am a Christian does not make me a disciple of Jesus either.

Living the life of a disciple and teaching others what Jesus said and proclaiming the Word of God as written in the Bible are the beginning actions of being a disciple. This is NOT a part time endeavor, but a full-time life choice that again, takes precedence over all other things in life.

This commitment does NOT mean becoming a religious hermit or monk of some sorts, doing things in a monastery or other place of worship. It does require our lives to be changed to one of acting and living the life of a disciple and spreading God’s word to all. The goal is to make disciples of others that you meet or know and have them become as you are now.

It means not being afraid to announce that God’s presence is nearby, God is alive and active, and aware of all of us and more importantly, Jesus Christ is our Savior in life.  

It is NOT easy, but Jesus Christ never promised easy to His disciples that traveled with Him or to those in the future that want to make the claim of being one.   

Peace,
Den Betts

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