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What Kind of Disciples Does Jesus Want?
In the last issue of The Disciple-Maker, I identified three groups who are called disciples in the New Testament: Causal Disciples (Matt. 8:19-22), Convinced Disciples (John 6:60-66), and Convicted Disciples (Luke 14:25-33; John 8:31). Jesus was looking for convicted disciples who were willing to give themselves as living sacrifices. I believe the apostles understood their Lord in this way and many of them became martyrs for Christ. Since Jesus’ command in the Great Commission is to help others become (convicted) disciples, we must gain a clear biblical understanding of the definition of a convicted disciple.
Characteristics of a Convicted Disciple.
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An unquenchable desire to know God and His Word (Mark 4:2-20; John 8:31). Three groups of people followed Jesus as He ministered to the multitudes. Many of the Jewish religious leaders were critics who found fault with Christ. Many within the multitudes were curious and followed Jesus for a variety of shallow and selfish reasons. But there were also those who possessed an incurable desire to be with Jesus and understand His teachings – those insatiable, spiritual question-askers. Today the critics still look for reasons not to believe and the curious still look for Jesus to do something spectacular for them and seem satisfied to know the stories of the Bible. But the convicted disciple possesses an unquenchable appetite to understand the spiritual truths embedded in the Word. One of the characteristics I look for in a potential disciple is whether he or she has lots of questions about God. Jesus said, “If you abide (remain) in my (Jesus) Word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31). |
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A willingness to make Jesus the ultimate or supreme love of your life. (Luke 14:26) I’m sure every Christian would say he loves Jesus. But when Jesus addressed the multitudes that followed Him, He didn’t inquire if they love Him and other things. He said, “If anyone comes to Me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also he cannot be (doesn’t qualify) to be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25). The biblical writers often use the words love and hate (e.g., Malachi 1:2-3) to show the disparity of two objects of possible affection. In Luke 14:25, Jesus is saying a true disciple must make Him the ultimate or supreme love of his life. So the question is not, “Do you love Jesus?” but, “Do you love Jesus more than anything else in this world?” This is a penetrating question we all must ask ourselves and those who want to follow Christ. |
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A willingness to trust God in life’s toughest trials. (Luke 14:27-32) “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” We do not bear Christ’s cross - only He could have done that. It was His ultimate test of loyalty and devotion to the Father. The cross represents a place of supreme sacrifice, a place where God sovereignly takes His children where the genuineness of our faith is ultimately tested. Abraham’s cross was offering Isaac on the altar, Joseph’s cross was continuing to trust God amidst years of false accusation and Job’s cross was the loss of his children and income. Matthew 16:24 says, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, will find it.” The convicted disciple turns to God in the midst of testing, but the non-disciple turns away. Look for believers who are trusting God in the midst of their trials – it is a characteristic of a convicted disciple. |
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A willingness to trust God to be your provider. (Luke 14:33). Jesus said, “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My disciple.” A convicted disciple has relinquished ownership of all he has and has become a manager or steward of the things God entrusts to him. A convicted disciple is one who has understood Jesus’ statement, “No man can serve two masters … you cannot serve God and money” (Matt. 6:24). Serving two masters (God and money) is not hard – it’s impossible. A convicted disciple has made the decision to serve God and trust Him to provide. |
Who can be a Convicted Disciple?
Did you notice that the characteristics of a convicted disciple are not the marks of spiritual maturity. They are the marks of one whose heart is fully committed to Christ. Surprisingly, a new Christian can abide in the Word, make decisions that reflect that his ultimate love is Jesus, surrender his life to Christ in service, and trust God to be his provider. It is matter of a person’s heart not their head.
Because of His Mercy,
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