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With the state of the world as it is, and the insanity that’s plaguing our Country in particular, is there a more important time to make sure that you are 100% with Christ? Below is an article I posted back in 2014, but feel it’s worth sharing again as the spiritual temperature is see throughout this Country is lukewarm at best. Wickedness and evil are gaining strength and influence exponentially, and the spirit of Antichrist is everywhere. So the question becomes are you a believer or a disciple?
We can’t be like the five foolish virgins that weren’t prepared and missed out on the wedding supper. Just saying you believe in Jesus and that he’s your savior is not going to get you into God’s Kingdom. We are saved by grace, and not by works, but if we are not living our lives according to the examples in scripture we’re going to be in trouble. Jesus isn’t interested in people who say they believe him yet live their lives like the rest of the world. He want’s believers that are committed disciples, and not just believers that can’t be distinguished from everyone else. Remember the example of Jesus separating the sheep from the goats? Those goats aren’t atheists, they are Christians who talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk. So read and consider, and if you find yourself falling short, it’s not too late to turn that around.
So, are you a believer? Do you believe that Jesus is God? If so, how many points does that give you? Where does that belief put you with God? How does that measure up in your relationship with God?
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
So even the demons believe that Jesus is God, so how does that square with being a believer? You hear people say that all the time, “I’m a believer”.
Let me ask you a more important question, are you a disciple of Christ?
Well, I guess we should determine what a disciple is to see if we are one or not, right?
Harper’s Bible Dictionary describes a disciple as an apprentice or pupil attached to a teacher or movement; one whose allegiance is to the instruction and commitments of the teacher or movement.
Does that describe your relationship with Christ?
So above we see that a disciple is not just a believer, but he’s an avid learner and imitator of his teacher. Are you and avid leaner and imitator of Christ?
What did Jesus say about being a disciple?
Luke 6:40
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
Do we have the peace of God which comes from being a disciple? Are we investing ourselves and our time in training to be disciples? Are we striving to be like our Teacher? Do we emulate Him, do we speak His words, and do we act as He did? Now let’s be clear, I nor anyone I know, is a perfect disciple. We all fall short, and often. The difference between a believer and a disciple in my opinion is a spirit or attitude in his or her heart. Someone who’s just a believer never really invests themselves in training with regular prayer, bible reading and study. They don’t spend their time meditating on the things of God, but feel just believing in God is a ticket to the Kingdom. Christ said, those who are going to follow him must pick up their cross daily and follow him, not step over the cross and do their own thing.
A disciple on the other hand, picks up his cross daily and follows Christ. He invests his time and energy into developing a relationship with God not in a passive way, but putting in the time. The disciple knows his Bible and is always ready and able to give an answer for the hope that’s in him.
Part of being a disciple is being like what Paul talked about in Romans 8:29: For whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, …
To be a disciple then, we must be emulating and conforming to the image of Christ. Are we doing that?
Again, I am not a perfect disciple by any stretch of the imagination. I can assure you I don’t always speak his words, or act the way He would in all situation. What I can tell you is when I fail; I get up, brush myself off, and move forward. I want to be like my Savior, but he is a hard act to follow.
Do you have a strong desire to follow Jesus and become like Him? Unless you do, the scriptures say we can’t truly be His disciple!
So, what helps identify us as disciples? Let’s take a look at some scriptures on that.
John 8:31
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
Did you catch that, we must abide in word? Do we accept and act in accordance with his word and his will; not just with lip service, but with action?
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
A doer isn’t someone who just hears and believes something, a doer is someone who takes what he learns and does something with it.
So, what’s another way to measure whether we are a disciple of Jesus?
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Sometimes people aren’t very lovable, but Christ doesn’t say anything about only loving the lovable. Also, this is not an emotional love He’s talking about, but a charitable love; a loving in spite of.
As a disciple we’re supposed to follow Christ’s example. People will know and judge us according to our actions, and how we treat others. What are our actions telling others? I always shake my head in sadness when I hear atheist deny Christ because of the bad representation of some Christians. And I’m not talking about the fallibility of Christians, but of the hypocrisy and bad examples a fair amount of Christians give to others.
There is no greater calling we can receive than to be invited to be a disciple of Christ. That doesn’t mean that we’re required to read the Bible for hours each day, or spend all our free time in prayer; but it does mean our heart and thoughts are guided by Christ. Remember, some are called to evangelize or preach so much of their time will be in service to the church. Others are called to write, some to be activists for just causes; others for hospitality, teaching the younger men or women, etc., but all require time and effort to be invested into those callings. We all have a place in the body, but we are all different parts. If you don’t know what your calling might be or what spiritual gifts you might have, you can google spiritual gifts test and take a free online test that can help get you pointed in the right direction.
Keep in mind, being a disciple of Christ is not about perfection, but rather about commitment, relationship and the heart.
So, if you feel you are having problems with having a disciple’s heart, ask God to be your cardiologist, and make it right.
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