Be My Disciple

Be My Disciple

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? It means to believe what He says, to trust in His Son Jesus, to accept His presence, and to follow His way. To be a disciple takes discipline. It means no matter how old you are, you’re still a pupil and, like the Amish, still passing on what you believe. Author Steven Nolt writes,

With their rejection of automobile ownership, public utility electricity, and the fads and fashions of Madison Avenue, they annually attract countless tourists and academics who see in Old Order people everything from images of nostalgic conservatism to icons of postmodern environmentalism. Yet the Amish are really none of these things. They are not timeless figures frozen in the past, nor the poster-children of political activists. Taken on their own terms, the Old Order Amish are a living, dynamic church—a committed Christian community whose members have taken seriously the task of discipleship and group witness.

How seriously do you take discipleship? Do you consider yourself to be a pupil of Christ? The purpose of discipleship is to replicate the one you are following. It’s to embrace truth in order to share it. The Amish live within the confines of their community, and as Christians we live within the confines of what can seem like “rules and laws.” Yet when we choose to follow God’s way, we discover unexplainable freedom. We can live pure lives, and we are free from guilt, shame, and painful consequences. And when we live with frugality and simplicity, we can get free of debt and clutter.

Discipline takes commitment and focus, but the reward is freedom and right living. Only a good God could come up with something as balanced and wonderful as that.

Dear heavenly Father, the more I follow, the more I walk in freedom. Thank You for not leaving me alone but for allowing me to follow in Your steps and be filled with Yourself for the journey.