Who Is A Disciple?:
"A disciple is not above his teacher ..."Matthew 10:24 A disciple, in a bigger sense, is a student, a pupil or a follower. The word, apprentice is a great term to describe a disciple. He is one who has devoted his life to learning a particular skill or certain ideas from his teacher or instructor. The goal of the student is to become equal to or better than his master-teacher. In schools today, the student-teacher relationship generally implies that a teacher is instructing and communicating ideas that the student is free to accept or reject, as long as he can reproduce the correct answers on an exam. It makes little difference to the student or the teacher if those things taught are important or if they are key principles by which life should be lived. However, the disciple of Jesus is asked to drop everything and follow Him. Jesus goes even further and asks for a life-long, day-by-day commitment. Jesus expects His words to be taken to heart and then allowed to touch and change every aspect of the way we think and live. We are to come daily expecting the master-teacher to impart wisdom and understanding to us; and then we do what he says and ultimately, we are gradually conformed into His image. While every born-again Christian is in some way a disciple, the real following comes in how we occupy our time each day. Are Bible study, private devotions and prayer consistent and are they a part of our daily spiritual routine? They are for a real disciple. After we have mastered those simple things, are you and I training other Christians to follow in the footsteps of the Master? Our job of building disciples is not complete until they are also following the example of their Master. Jesus knew it would involve close, personal instruction and involvement—the same kind he gave His twelve disciples. They were said to have turned the world upside down for Jesus. Consider what impact you are making on someone and adjust your life to emulate how Jesus accomplished discipling.
Dave Grimes
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