Disciple Now?

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:34-38)

Are you a believer? If you are reading this, then I would venture that your answer is 'yes'.

Are you a disciple? That's an entirely different question. Becoming a believer is simply a matter of trusting in Christ as your only hope of salvation, becoming a disciple is working hard everyday after that to become more like Jesus.

No, I'm not saying we have to behave to get into heaven, salvation is by faith alone- and when we truly trust Christ we are forever saved. The issue is this: when you finally do meet Jesus face to face, will He even recognize your face?

"Disciple' is a fancy word for "follower". So if you claim to be a disciple, your actions will match your words. Authentic Christians will not be satisfied with just being a believer. Each day we should be falling in love more and more with our Savior, and thus begin acting more and more like Him.

Here is a list that makes a great starting point to Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (II Corinthians 13:5).

• A believer praises the Lord in good times, the disciple at all times.
• The Holy Spirit resides in the believer but shines through the disciple.
• A believer loves God with heart and mind, while a disciple commits the will.
• A believer loves God and others, but they are the disciple's life.
• A believer lives in hope, but for the disciple, God's hope is certain.
• A believer seeks forgiveness for sin, but a disciple also determines not to walk that path again.
• A believer had faith in God but the disciple's faith is tempered in the fire of testing.
• A believer loves the Lord, but the disciple's love is unconditional.
• The believer serves the Lord in strength, but the disciple is made perfect through weakness.
• God is part of the believer's life, but the central focus of the disciple.
• A believer forgives, but the disciple also forgets.
• A believer communicates with God at his/her own convenience, but the disciple's heart is open to the Lord at all times.

Questions:

1. Would God say I am more a believer or a disciple?
2. Which area from the list do I need to work on the most?
3. Am I satisfied with just being a believer? Why or why not?