A Disciple of Jesus

Becoming a disciple of Jesus is a life-long process. As we learn what the truth is, we align our hearts with that knowledge so that we can live it out. Knowing the truth takes our “yes” to God deeper than a one-time decision and transforms it into a lifestyle of saying “yes”. If we want to be more like Jesus, we have to consistently pursue Him in everything we do.

The act of being a disciple has to be intentional. While God can reveal truth to us, we have to take it a step further by actively applying that truth to our lives. In order to truly live in truth, we have to be honest about where we are in our walk with God. Psalm 139 says, “You have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Ps. 139:1 NLT). God already knows the state of our hearts, so in order to let him change us, we have to be honest about what we are feeling and experiencing.  Being transparent requires humility and vulnerability, but when we allow ourselves to engage with it, God meets us in it.

Paul gives us a really clear view of what this kind of discipleship looks like in 2 Timothy 2:2. He says, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” This simply means that discipleship is about learning the truth and then telling it to others. When we let God into the vulnerable places of our hearts, He takes us deeper into who He is. There, we experience healing, freedom, and restoration. When we experience victory over sin struggles, we learn about God’s heart towards us. Then, we get to take what we learned through that process and share it with others. That is what discipleship is all about: freely giving what you have freely received.

Author | Emily Baker