As Christians, we are called not only to believe in Jesus but to follow Him. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This is what is known as discipleship. Being a disciple of Christ means surrendering our lives to Him and allowing Him to shape us into His image. In this blog, we will explore what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

Learning from Jesus
Being a disciple means following Jesus and learning from Him. In the Gospels, we see Jesus teaching, healing, and performing miracles. As His disciples, we are not only called to believe in Him but we are also called to imitate Him. We should study His teachings, pray as He prayed, love as He loved, and serve as He served. We should also seek to develop a personal relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers.

Taking up the Cross
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said that if anyone would come after Him, he must deny himself and take up his cross. Taking up the cross is a symbol of dying to ourselves and our own desires, and surrendering our lives to Jesus. It means being willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, just as Jesus suffered on the cross for our sins. It also means being willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, even if it means leaving behind our comfort zones and facing persecution.

Making Disciples
As disciples of Christ, we are not only called to follow Him, but we are also called to make disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave the Great Commission, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This involves sharing the Gospel with others, discipling them, and helping them to grow in their faith.

Serving Others
Being a disciple of Christ also means serving others. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” We should seek to serve others as Jesus served, with humility, compassion, and love. This can involve serving our church, serving our community, and serving those who are in need.

Growing in Discipleship
Finally, being a disciple of Christ is an ongoing process of growth. We should never stop learning from Jesus, never stop taking up our cross, never stop making disciples, and never stop serving others. We should always be seeking to grow in our relationship with Him, to deepen our understanding of the Gospel, and to become more like Jesus in our character and actions.

Being a disciple of Christ is not just a one-time decision, but a lifelong journey of following Jesus, taking up our cross, making disciples, serving others, and growing in our faith. It is not always easy, but it is always worth it, for as we follow Jesus, He will transform us and use us to bring glory to His name and to further His kingdom. So let us commit ourselves anew to being disciples of Christ, and let us seek to follow Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.