What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Jesus?

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?

Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”

While this verse was directed towards the Jews around Him the verse is also a reminder to all Christians of the calling they have given their life to perform.

However, becoming a disciple of Jesus goes far beyond just accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Being a disciple of Jesus means you learn from His teachings and then use what you learn to become imitators of Jesus.

Becoming a disciple of Jesus means you get to answer the call of Jesus no matter when He calls. In your lifetime Jesus will call you to do many things.

• He calls you to love the lost,including those you find difficult.
• He calls you to give the message to everyone, even the person working next to you who may be the biggest pain in the you know what. Jesus calls you to do many things but the biggest thing Is the fact.
• He calls you to be ready, and willing to do the things you think you’re not able to accomplish.

You discover rather quickly in my Christian walk that God's plan for your life is not always what you planned for your life. I have also discovered that no matter what I think God's plans are way better than my plans. If I'd only listened to Him a few more times.

God's says in Psalm 16:11, You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy." God always leads me down a path which brings me closer to Him. It is only when we stray off God's path that we ending up wandering aimlessly through the woods trying to find our way back home.

Jesus says in John 13: 34 -35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I my life I have always tried to like everyone I meet,but to love someone means you get past like and move to a whole new level of empathy for someone. Loving someone means that you feel their pain when they feel pain, you feel their joy when they feel joy, loving someone means we spend time with even when you feel like it is taking away from your time.

Jesus put others first, we must do the same and accept everyone, even that girl or guy who comes to church with umpteen number of tattoos and piercings or the person whose Sunday best comes off the rack at the thrift store and haven't been washed in days. If you have trouble with this I suggest you start reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

As Americans we fill our store houses with more and more stuff, me included. Jesus more than once tells us that our stuff weighs us down, it does let us be free of the bondage of wanting more.

While we must be free of wanting stuff and turn our desires towards wanting a closer relationship with God we must also remember all we have was given to us by God so as a disciple we must be willing to share what God has given us with those who are in need. If it those extra clothes in the closet or the food in the overstuffed pantry or even a bed for a night or two use them to God;s glory and share them.

Jesus will say on that day, "when I was thirsty, you did not give me a drink, when I was hungry you did not give me food," and so on. As disciples we are meant to share all we have even if all we have is time.

Many of us sit in church on Sunday and hear the message over and over again, “take the Gospel to the world,” but still we fail to go. If we are truly to become a disciple of Jesus we must take the message to the world and help others come to a full knowledge of the truth. It's not easy, in fact it is one of the hardest callings of a disciple but it is the life Jesus calls us into. Another thing we always seem to forget is that a disciple is to both a teach and encourage new believers in order to help them grow in grace so they can in turn become effective disciples of Christ.

Being a disciple takes a lot of commitment and love, but in the end it will all be worth it when you hear Jesus say to you when you open your eyes in Heaven, "welcome good and faithful servant."