If someone were to come up to you and say the word “disciple”, what would enter into your mind?\u00a0 It is a word that in Christian circles is thrown around a lot.\u00a0 But I wonder if those who use the word truly understand what it means.\u00a0 Many times we over simplify the word disciple to mean a follower.\u00a0 While a disciple is a follower they are much more than that.\u00a0 A better word to use to describe a disciple would be “apprentice.”\u00a0 An apprentice is someone who is following someone around for the explicit person of carrying on their teacher’s work in the future.\u00a0 That is exactly what Jesus is calling us to do, to carry on His work.\u00a0 Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are “ambassadors for Christ.”\u00a0 We are to represent God to the world.\u00a0 In order to do that we must learn about Jesus, study Jesus, and then imitate Jesus.\u00a0 Luke 6:40 says, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”\u00a0 In other words, no disciple is greater than his teacher, but when he is fully trained he will be like his teacher. \u00a0 Again, this goes right in line with the idea of an apprentice.\u00a0 The word disciple is much more than a word, it is a lifestyle.\u00a0 When Jesus called His first disciples in Matthew 4 He said, “Follow Me.”\u00a0 In Matthew 11:29 Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”\u00a0 Notice Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me.”<\/p>\n
Jesus didn’t call His disciples and then say don’t change your lifestyle or become more like Me.\u00a0 In fact, Jesus says just the opposite.\u00a0 That as we learn more about Him, He will change us and that we will become more like Him.\u00a0 That is also the thrust of Paul’s message in Romans 8:28-29.\u00a0 Are you a disciple of Christ by mouth only or by deeds?\u00a0 Are you obeying Jesus’ first command to His disciples, “Follow Me?”\u00a0 If not, there is no better time to start than now!<\/p>\n
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By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If someone were to come up to you and say the word “disciple”, what would enter into your mind?\u00a0 It is a word that in Christian circles is thrown around a lot.\u00a0 But I wonder if those who use the … Read More