The Characteristics of a Disciple

Who do you want to be like when you grow up? We have all at one time or another had someone that we either wanted to be or wanted to be like. Boys, in particular want to be or be like their sports heroes. We wear the jersey with the number of our favorite sports figure, we begin talking like them, imitating their mannerisms. Irregardless of whether you are 7 or 70 it is never too late to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure of our life is when we commit to becoming like Him. He doesn’t have a number or a sports card, more than likely won’t be able to go out and by an action figure of Jesus, but we can look in the bible and find characteristics to emulate and develop. As a matter of fact in look there are some key traits of what a disciple needs to do in order to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. “…if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 ESV) Jesus is stating the characteristics or the qualifications needed to be a committed disciple of his. Look at them with me and then take some time to evaluate your life in each of these areas. 1. A disciple must “deny himself”. It means that you must “say no to something” or in some instances, say “no to someone.” We must say no to ourselves, our own impulses, and desires and subordinate them or eliminate them in order to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. 2. A disciple must “take up his cross daily.” Those who lived in the time of Jesus knew that the cross was a symbol for execution and death. It was painful and gruesome. Jesus is asking that we put to death our own desires, impulses, dreams, and plans in order to determine his plans, his desires, and his will and live to accomplish what he has determined. 3. A disciple must “follow me.” We must be obedient and willing to go and do things that we never dreamed we would. Christ went through storms, persecutions, and eventually death. Are we willing to follow the master? You can see that these traits, these characteristics are difficult and apart from the grace of God impossible. You can also see why we have so few disciples of Jesus Christ today. Oh, we have disciples of religions, great charismatic leaders, ideas, and philosophies, but so few disciples of Jesus Christ. Where are you today? Are you pampering self, refusing to pick up your instrument of death, and following someone or something other than Christ? I hope not!