Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Anytime I see the word disciple, I almost see it as the word: Discipline and it gives me the impression that becoming a disciple is not easy. It does require discipline because you’re helping in the progress of the agenda of another person.
As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we must push His agenda instead of ours and that requires self-control and discipline. Human nature is such that we are only interested in anything that would benefit us. If it has to do with another, we don’t put in as much effort.
Jesus expects that we make disciples, not just converts.
The church today mostly concentrates on getting people converted without taking them through training after conversion that would make them disciples or followers. The assumption is that once they are in church, they should be fine.
So in actual fact, not everyone in the church really understands the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Discipleship goes beyond just believing in Jesus. After the belief, actions must follow because the Bible says that faith without works is dead. A disciple is basically a believer in the ideas of a leader and a follower of those principles.
What makes it complete is the following aspect. Do you remember Philippians 2:12? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling? That is another definition of discipleship. It is hard work. Salvation is for free but you work at discipleship. That’s the difference!
Two things to take note of when it comes to discipleship:
1. The understanding that God owns us. Our lives are not ours. Our discipleship makes God our master and we serve His agenda. When Matthew 6:33 says, to seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, this is it: that we let go of our own plans and pursue God’s and in doing that, we find fulfillment in the achievement of our own personal goals.
You know there are people who have achieved so much and yet not fulfilled, right?
Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher. The aim of discipleship is to be transformed into the image of Christ.
2. Discipleship can’t occur outside of a relationship with the leader. If we are going to be disciples and follow Jesus, we need to hear from Him on what to do per time. 2 Cor. 5:20 We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making an appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. A part of being a disciple is being able to share the doctrines of that leader. How then do we share about someone we know nothing about? This is why a relationship with Him is key.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. The shepherd-sheep relationship here can be likened to the master-disciple relationship. Being saved is not enough, become a disciple.
The Word In Clarity 