Discipleship Dimensions:
The Makings of a True Disciple
What should be the “makings” of a disciple of Jesus? The life of a true disciple is made up of five requirements. The true disciple gives up all for Him, listens to Him, abides in Him, sets aside his or her own life for Him, and spends time with Him. What do these five requirements mean?
A true disciple must give up all for Jesus. The word “all” means possessions. A true disciple is to consider possessions not as “owned” but as “loaned.” Everything is God’s, and a true disciple is a “steward” or a “caretaker” in charge of a portion of God’s possessions. Jesus said, “…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33). To “give up” means to renounce or abandon claim to possessions, although not necessarily to dispose of possessions. Possessions - things and money - are to be used to live and to give, and are never to be served.
A true disciple must listen to Jesus. Jesus is fully God and He is the truth. On the mount of transfiguration, where Jesus’ glory was revealed, a bright cloud enveloped Him as He spoke with Moses and Elijah, “… and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’” We must listen to what Jesus says if we are to follow in His way.
A true disciple must abide in Jesus. To “abide” means to “remain” or to “stay” as in when one abides in a home, which itself is often referred to as an “abode.” The “home” of a true disciple is Jesus. It is in Jesus’ life that we find and maintain our lives. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). We must live our lives in Him if we are to do His work in the world.
A true disciple must set aside his or her own life for Jesus. Jesus taught what it means to be His disciple. He wanted those who might follow Him to count the cost of discipleship. To that end, He said, “… anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27). Those who heard that statement knew that to carry one’s cross meant death. Paul reiterated Jesus’ point to the Colossians when he wrote, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3).
A true disciple must spend time with Jesus. To know a person and that person’s words one must spend time with that person and studying that person’s writings. So it is with Jesus. As disciples, we cannot know Jesus intimately, and therefore be like Him, unless we spend time with Him in word and in prayer. As disciples, we cannot draw on His power unless we spend time with Him.
Are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ? If you give up all for Him, listen to Him, abide in Him, set aside your own life for Him, and spend time with Him, then you are a true disciple who has committed to drinking from His “glass.”
Remember that your “drink of life” must be continuous so that your life will always shows forth the “makings” of a true disciple. If you seem spiritually dry or thirsty at times, it is not because the glass is empty, for it never is. Rather, you have only put the glass down. Simply pick it up again, and drink deeply of Him and His life.
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