A Challenge to Discipleship

1 John 2:5-6 - By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says that he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walks.

It is a lot easier to say that we are in Christ than it is to show it. True discipleship consists of not simply stating that you love Jesus. That is easy to do for most. Rather, it is living as he lived. It is loving as he loved. It is serving as he served. These two verses seem simple enough at first glance: the proof that we abide in him is that we live like Jesus did. The word abide generally means to remain or stay, but here it is referring to an intimate, committed relationship with Jesus that is both personal and continuous (Smalley, 51). Logically, if there is a relationship that is that close and personal, then one would begin to take on those traits, especially when the nature of the relationship is to be one of mentor. Therefore, if someone claims to have this type of extensive fellowship with Jesus, but does not exemplify the traits that Jesus had, there is evidence that something is wrong with the claim.

If you are currently thinking to yourself that it is impossible to walk as Jesus did because he turned water into wine and walked on water and healed diseases and forgave sins, then you have not studied Jesus enough. We must get beyond our Sunday School knowledge of the stories of Jesus and see HOW he lived life, not simply what he did. Then, we are to do the same. When we abide in him, we are able to do much for the kingdom of God.

Over the next while, I am going to be posting about the life of Christ. I am very excited about studying who Jesus was on earth and falling more in love with him. I hope that in return I will love more like him. I hope you will join the journey with me and allow God to transform you as you become more like His Son.