Following Jesus: A Faithful Disciple's Journey And Meaning

To be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, one must be a learner or student of Jesus, dedicating their life to following him and serving him. This involves leaving behind one's former life and possessions, and committing to learning from Jesus and being guided by his teachings. Faithful disciples are expected to be obedient and loyal, and to put their trust in Jesus alone for salvation. They are also called to lead others towards discipleship, sharing the good news of Jesus and making disciples of all nations.

Trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation

Trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation is a core aspect of being a faithful disciple. This means believing in Jesus as God in human form, and having faith in Him as our saviour. We believe in what He has done for us—dying for our sins and rising from the dead.

We cannot save ourselves from sin and death, so we put our trust in Jesus to save us. We must accept His forgiveness and believe in Him for salvation. This trust in Jesus means committing and dedicating ourselves entirely to Him. We put our complete confidence in Him and His Word. We trust in Jesus by believing everything He said and accepting His Word as true. The more we know and abide by His words, the more we will obey Him, and the more our confidence in Him will grow.

Trusting in Jesus also means relying on Him for everything in our lives, especially when we are weary and burdened. We can come to Him and find rest for our souls. Jesus is the believer's Sabbath-rest. He understands our weaknesses and knows we will struggle to trust in Him, so He encourages us to bring our anxious hearts to God in prayer, where we will find peace.

Our trust in Jesus grows through experience, as we see God working in our lives, and we learn to live by faith in Him.

Love Jesus with your whole heart

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a learner or a student, and to have a personal relationship with Him. A disciple is committed to knowing and being guided by God's truth.

To love Jesus with your whole heart is to obey His command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind". This means loving God with all your being, with all your passion, prayer, and intelligence. It is to love Him wholly and absolutely, with all your powers and faculties, and to not prefer anything over Him.

Loving God with your whole heart involves turning your heart to Him, praying to Him, calling on His name, confessing your sins, and spending time in His Word. It is to love Him with the love He has infused within you, for "we love because He first loved us". God is the source of our love for Him, and He loves us to the uttermost, as demonstrated by His dying on the cross.

Loving God with your whole heart also means turning away from other gods and worldly pleasures, and instead, seeking Him and His Kingdom. It is to be steadfast and faithful to Him, as He has been to us.

Obey Jesus's teachings

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be a learner or student of his teachings. This involves leaving behind your old life and committing to following Jesus and learning from him.

Jesus's disciples were expected to learn from him and stay close to him. They were expected to be motivated by their love for him, to follow his example, and to model themselves after him. This meant listening carefully to his teachings and willingly doing what he said.

Obeying Jesus's teachings means putting what he taught into practice. It is a full-time occupation, not a part-time activity. It means spending time with Jesus, serving him, and sitting at his feet, listening to what he teaches. It is about allowing Scripture, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to shape how we think and what we do.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and he expected them to pray. He prayed himself, and he taught his disciples how to pray (Luke 11:1-4). Prayer is an essential part of staying close to Christ and being dependent on him.

Jesus also taught his disciples to make other disciples. In the Great Commission, he told them to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Obeying Jesus's teachings means being willing to leave everything behind and follow him, just as his first disciples did. It means being willing to lose your life for his sake and for the sake of the gospel (Mark 8:34-36). It means taking up your cross and following him, denying yourself, and being obedient to his commands.

Jesus taught that those who are truly his disciples will be characterised by their love for him and their obedience to his word. In John 14:23, he said, "If anyone loves me, they will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

Obeying Jesus's teachings means being transformed by his word and allowing it to shape your mind, heart, and life. It means being willing to learn from him, to follow him, and to serve him. It is a commitment for a lifetime.

Live dependently by walking in the Holy Spirit

To be a faithful disciple, one must follow Christ, trusting in Him for salvation, loving Him, obeying His teachings, and living dependently on Him. Living dependently involves walking in the Holy Spirit, meditating on the word of God, engaging in prayer, and partnering with the body of Christ (the local church).

Walking in the Holy Spirit is a central metaphor for describing what it means to live as a Christian. It is not just for the ultra-spiritual or reserved for charismatic Christians. It is a way of life that involves depending on the Holy Spirit in all areas of life.

Firstly, walking in the Holy Spirit means depending on God's Word as the ultimate truth and living according to it. This requires acknowledging the Bible as God's Word and obeying its commandments. It also involves meditating on Scripture and allowing it to shape one's thoughts and actions.

Secondly, walking in the Spirit entails living by faith and trusting in Jesus Christ. This means relying on Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ. As Jesus said, "He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:14).

Lastly, walking in the Holy Spirit bears fruit in one's life. The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These characteristics are evidence of a life that is dependent on the Holy Spirit and transformed by His power.

In conclusion, living dependently by walking in the Holy Spirit is a crucial aspect of being a faithful disciple of Christ. It involves a deep trust in God's Word, faith in Jesus Christ, and a transformed life that bears the fruit of the Spirit.

Lead others to do the same

Leading others to do the same is a crucial aspect of being a faithful disciple. It is not enough to just be a disciple of Jesus Christ oneself; the true test of faithfulness lies in guiding others towards discipleship.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus commissions his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (28:19-20). This instruction is not solely directed at the eleven disciples or even his larger group of followers. Instead, it is a mandate for his entire church, underscoring the responsibility to spread discipleship far and wide.

Being a disciple is not merely about personal salvation or a private relationship with Jesus. It is a commitment to learn from Christ, to follow in His footsteps, and to lead others on the same path. A disciple is expected to follow Christ, but also to guide others towards Him, sharing the teachings and serving as a role model.

The disciple-making process involves encouraging and challenging others to surrender their hearts, character, and all aspects of their lives to Christ. This includes equipping them with the tools for evangelism, discipleship, and service, much like Jesus did with his disciples, sending them out in pairs to model ministry (Mark 8:34-36).

Leading others towards discipleship also means inspiring them to take initiative. Encouraging them to lead small groups, participate in mission trips, and seek opportunities to initiate gospel conversations in their daily lives are all ways to do this.

Furthermore, a disciple should also motivate others to develop a vibrant prayer life, making prayer a top priority, just as Jesus did with his followers.

In essence, leading others to become disciples entails not just imparting knowledge but also fostering a willingness to learn, obey, and emulate Jesus Christ, ultimately spreading the light of faith and guiding others towards spiritual transformation.

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