When you think of the word “discipleship,” two thoughts should cross your mind: “discipline,” as defined by Webster, means a branch of knowledge or learning or a training that develops self-control and character; and “disciple,” also defined by Webster, means a pupil of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This text does not mean we have to quit our jobs, move to another country and make disciples out of foreigners; rather, we should make disciples in our own neighborhoods and families.
Before we can make disciples of others, we must become disciples ourselves. How do we become disciples of Jesus Christ? Intimate time alone with the Master with prayer and Bible study, that’s how.
The writer Paul admonishes us to “to be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). In order for us to take on the character of Jesus Christ, we must first purpose in our hearts to renew our mind. Time spent alone with God and his Word will renew our minds, transform our thinking and prepare us to be disciplemakers for the Kingdom of God. After all, didn’t Jesus command us to “go and make disciples” (Matt 28:19)?
Notwithstanding, to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ, we first must learn to love, which is also another way to renew ourmind. God is love, pointblank, end of story. If we are Christians and we love God, then we will love everyone, even our enemies, just as Jesus did throughout his ministry on Earth.
Jesus stated in Mark 8:34, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Discipleship is a challenging task because our flesh wants to be gratified every waking second.
When a person cuts us off on the road, our flesh would like to give them a piece of our mind. When we wake up in the morning, the first part of our day should begin with God, but our flesh wants to sleep in those few extra minutes. When God blesses us with a salary on our jobs, our flesh wants to rob God of his “tithes and offerings.”
Our minds must be saturated with the Word of God on a continual basis.
Otherwise, our minds will become more and more carnal. Rom 8:5-7 succinctly states, “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Conversely, the carnal mind is enmity against God.
We cannot love God to the fullest if we don’t study and become doers of the Word. If the love of God is not in our hearts and minds, we will be unable to lead our neighbors to Jesus. If we saturate our minds with God’s Word, we will be better equipped to make disciples of others, thus finishing the work that Jesus Christ began some 2,000 years ago.
