Invitation to Discipleship

…“Come, be my disciple,” Jesus said… (Mark 2:14)

What is meant by, “Be my disciple”? What does Jesus want us to do? 

He is saying, “Follow Me. Walk with Me. Listen to Me. Learn from Me. Do what you see Me do.”

Jesus didn’t say, “Go sit on a church pew.” In itself there is nothing wrong with being on a church pew. In church we can hear God’s Word expounded and we can be encouraged in our Christian walk. But there is more to being a disciple of Christ than that. Discipleship involves taking what we have learned with us as we leave the church building, so that we can minister to others. 

We tend to live far from the way Jesus lived. He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” He wants us to do the same!

Sometimes we get so concerned with our own lives—our own problems, needs and desires—that we forget He wants us to live selflessly, as He did. We are meant to reach out to others with the good news of Christ’s love and forgiveness!

I am so impressed by the fact that those whom Jesus called immediately left what they were doing and followed Him. There was something compelling about Him that caused them to forsake what had previously held their interest so they could wholeheartedly follow Him! 

It seems to me that if we will listen for the voice of Jesus and desire to know Him as He truly is, we will be compelled to forsake all and follow Him with complete devotion. And in doing so we will learn how to care for others and minister to their needs!

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How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:19-20)