Disciple: Day 1
As we start thinking about biblical discipleship, we need to know what it means to be a disciple. Simply put, a disciple is a student or follower of someone else. This past week, our oldest son has had an extremely busy week. He has been up early, stayed out later, but has also made sure to include time to get himself to the gym. When he came in sweaty and tired, I complimented his commitment to working out, even while I knew he was exhausted from school and his extracurriculars. He told me, very nonshalantly, “The goal is to be just like dad.”
As disciples of Jesus, we allow Him to be our Teacher, our Mentor. We take His teachings seriously and try to build our lives on His principles.
But before we can embrace the definition of discipleship in the Bible, we have to take the first step—accepting God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. We can’t make disciples until we become disciples. And no one becomes a disciple without first surrendering their lives to Jesus.
So, before you dig into the meaning of discipleship, examine your personal relationship with Jesus. Acknowledge that you have sinned (disobeyed God) and that you cannot save yourself from that sin. Embrace Jesus’s death as the substitute for the punishment for your sin and accept that gift by confessing Him as your Lord and Savior.
If you’ve already made that decision in your life, that’s great. You’re ready to move forward as a disciple of Jesus. If not, talk more about that decision and what it means with a close friend or pastor. Becoming a Christ follower is the first step in becoming His disciple.
As disciples of Jesus, we allow Him to be our Teacher, our Mentor. We take His teachings seriously and try to build our lives on His principles.
But before we can embrace the definition of discipleship in the Bible, we have to take the first step—accepting God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. We can’t make disciples until we become disciples. And no one becomes a disciple without first surrendering their lives to Jesus.
So, before you dig into the meaning of discipleship, examine your personal relationship with Jesus. Acknowledge that you have sinned (disobeyed God) and that you cannot save yourself from that sin. Embrace Jesus’s death as the substitute for the punishment for your sin and accept that gift by confessing Him as your Lord and Savior.
If you’ve already made that decision in your life, that’s great. You’re ready to move forward as a disciple of Jesus. If not, talk more about that decision and what it means with a close friend or pastor. Becoming a Christ follower is the first step in becoming His disciple.
'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. '
Romans 5:8 NIV
Romans 5:8 NIV
'If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. '
Romans 10:9 NIV
Romans 10:9 NIV
Prayer
"Father, I come to You knowing that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Right now, I turn from my sins and open my heart for the gift of Jesus. Thank You for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen."
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