Are you a disciple of Jesus?
You don’t hear the term “Disciple of Jesus” often in the church today. Instead, we refer to a person as Christian or a non-Christian.
Once, the word Christian referred only to those who followed Jesus and believed in the Bible. So, when someone said they were a Christian, you had a good idea of what they believed.
Today you don’t!
They may not believe in Jesus or the truths of the Scriptures. They can even be active leaders in the organized church.
Today, “Christian” is applied to anyone who believes there is a God even if they do not follow His teachings. Secondly, it is used by anyone who may have had a relative in the past who went to church.
Until recently, all politicians claimed to be Christian to help them get elected regardless of their moral values. Today, even though they use the term, they know they are not expected to live it.
Disciple of Jesus
Jesus and others refer to those who followed Jesus as His disciples, and what they believed was clear. They believed Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for their sins.
Jesus is clear about how He defines His disciples. It is those who keep His commandments. We cannot claim to be His disciples and follow the world’s ideas. The world philosophy is built on the lies of Satan.
Notice what Jesus says.
20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:20-21 NKJV
There is no question about what a disciple believes. If they are followers of Jesus, they keep His commandments. They believe what He taught and are committed to doing what He says they should do.
The same is true for us today!
It costs to be a disciple
Disciples must face different problems than those who label themselves as Christians. If we decide to walk with Jesus, we will face attacks from fake Christians, the world and even some churches.
Jesus makes it clear that following Him will cost something. He tells His disciples from the beginning that to follow Him, they will have a cross to bear.
Today, the church teaches the gospel truth about receiving Jesus and confessing Him as the Risen Son of God. However, they often stop there.
Jesus had not gone to the cross when He says in Matthew 16:24 NKJV, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Our Lord knew what it would cost His disciples to follow Him. All of the twelve, except John, of the Apostles were killed for proclaiming the Gospel message of salvation.
Jesus knew
Knowing what would face His disciples, Jesus warned the twelve and all who would follow Him what would come. Jesus tells us what to expect in Matthew 5:11-12 NIV, 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Yes, He said we would be insulted, persecuted, and lied about because of Him.
Jesus knew that if we were His disciples we would be attacked. People have not changed. Those who choose sin over following Jesus will hate those who choose Jesus.
Note the following Scripture.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:24-25 NKJV, 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
They attacked Jesus because He spoke the truth of God. The world will attack you also if follow Jesus and speak the same truth. Evil hates truth.
Following Jesus will cost you, but the reward is greater than the cost. Jesus will be with you all the way, and the Holy Spirit will guide you and fill you with joy even in the worst of times.
Disciples of Jesus have a job’
Your job is to speak Jesus to a sick and dying world. Yes, you will be attacked both verbally and physically. At times it will seem that Satan is winning, but He is already defeated. When Jesus rose from the dead He proclaimed life for all who would believe in Him.
Our job is to tell people about Jesus and what He did for them. We are to show them in our lives the power of God’s truth as the salt and light of the world.
Salt
The use of salt was understood by everyone who listened to Jesus that day on the Mount. They used it for everything. It preserved their food, healed their wounds, tanned the animal skins, and seasoned their meals.
Without salt, they would perish. Even today, salt is essential to our survival. We use salt in many of the same ways they did and more.
So when Jesus said His disciples were the salt of the earth, they understood. As His disciples, we are to reach the lost with His gospel message and thereby save them.
In Matthew 5:13 NIV Jesus says, 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will become salt to the world in which we live. But what if we do not follow Him or do what He has shown us?
What if we only confess Him as Lord, go to church, and live like everyone else?
Jesus is talking about those who never really became salt. Without following His teachings, we are salt that has lost its saltiness. If we play the Christian game and lose our saltiness, He says we are no longer good for anything.
Don’t become good for nothing!
God’s plan is for us to be a Light to the world.
Jesus reinforces this truth by adding the example of light in the darkness.
The salt represents what we are to be to the world. We are to flavor the world with righteousness and good works. Accepting Jesus as the Lord of our lives opens doors for us to share His wonderful saving message with the world.
Likewise, we are to be the light of the world.
Light cannot be hidden in a dark and sinful world. As Jesus says, you do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. You want the light to shine all around the room.
Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-16 NIV, 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As disciples of Jesus, we are to let our light shine before all with whom we come into contact. True disciples are doers of the Word and not just hearers. We are lights in the darkness.
In Conclusion
My Friend, I encourage you accept Jesus as the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins. Accept that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and was seen by hundreds, and commit yourself to be a true disciple.
Church attendance, teaching, and preaching are all critical to your growth in Christ. However, following Jesus in everything is what marks you as belonging to Him. The three things I have listed are for your growth.
First, you must commit to living as Jesus lived.
Second, you must give as He gave. For some that may even mean your life.
Third, you must be faithful to the Word of God.
Saying that you believe is only the first step, even the demons believe. They believe and tremble.
James says in James 2:19 NKJV, 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Salvation is the gift of God, but walking with Jesus has costs. It has joy and hope, but it does have a cost. It may cost you friends, family, and many other things you may want in life.
My testimony to you is that whatever the cost, it is worth it all.