Back to Basics: Christian Living: Becoming & Growing as a Disciple of Christ!

Living as Disciples in Today's World

The call to follow Jesus Christ is not merely an invitation to believe, but a summons to discipleship—a transformative journey that reshapes every aspect of our lives. As believers, we are called to embody the characteristics of true disciples whilst continually growing in spiritual maturity. Understanding both what defines a disciple and how we grow in that calling is essential for every Christian seeking to live faithfully for Christ.

The Heart of Discipleship: Love

At the very core of Christian discipleship lies love—both for God and for others. Jesus made this abundantly clear when He told His disciples, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35, KJV). This love is not a mere emotional sentiment but a deliberate choice to serve, sacrifice, and seek the good of others, mirroring the selfless love Christ demonstrated on the cross.

Love serves as the identifying mark of genuine discipleship. The world watches how Christians treat one another, and our love—or lack thereof—becomes our most powerful testimony. This love extends beyond our fellow believers to encompass all people, even our enemies, reflecting the radical nature of Christ's teaching.

Obedience: The Proof of Love

True love for Christ manifests itself through obedience to His commands. Jesus declared, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15, KJV). Obedience is not legalistic duty but the natural overflow of a heart transformed by grace. When we truly love Christ, we desire to please Him, and this desire compels us to align our lives with His teachings.

This obedience touches every area of life—our relationships, our work, our words, and our thoughts. It requires us to submit our will to His, trusting that His ways are always best even when they conflict with our desires or the culture around us.

Bearing Lasting Fruit

Jesus expects His disciples to be fruitful. He said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" (John 15:16, KJV). The fruit of a disciple's life includes both character transformation and kingdom impact—leading others to Christ, serving those in need, and living in a way that glorifies God.

This fruit is not temporary or superficial but lasting and eternal. It results from abiding in Christ, remaining connected to Him as branches to a vine, drawing our spiritual life and vitality from His presence.

Taking Up the Cross Daily

Discipleship demands sacrifice and self-denial. Jesus taught, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23, KJV). Taking up our cross daily means dying to selfish ambitions, worldly pursuits, and sinful desires. It means embracing suffering, rejection, and hardship for the sake of following Christ.

This daily commitment prevents complacency in our spiritual walk. Each day presents new opportunities to choose Christ over self, to surrender our plans to His purposes, and to count the cost of following Him.

Embracing Humble Service

In stark contrast to worldly values of power and prestige, Jesus called His disciples to humility and servant-heartedness. He said, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26-28, KJV).

True greatness in God's kingdom is measured by how we serve others, not by how we elevate ourselves. Jesus Himself modelled this when He washed His disciples' feet, demonstrating that no act of service is beneath those who follow Him.

Renewing the Mind

Spiritual growth begins with mental transformation. Paul exhorted believers, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2, KJV). The battle for spiritual maturity is won or lost in the mind.

We renew our minds by saturating ourselves in God's Word, allowing Scripture to reshape our thinking, correct our beliefs, and guide our decisions. This process is ongoing and requires consistent engagement with the Bible through reading, study, memorisation, and meditation.

Putting Off & Putting On

Growth requires both removal and replacement. Paul instructed, "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24, KJV).

We must actively shed the behaviours, attitudes, and patterns of our old life whilst deliberately cultivating the characteristics of our new identity in Christ. This is not passive but requires intentional effort empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Developing Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual growth is nurtured through consistent spiritual disciplines—worship, fasting, meditation, prayer, and Scripture reading. These practices create space for God to work in our hearts and draw us closer to Him. They are not meant to earn God's favour but to position ourselves to receive His grace and grow in His likeness.

Each discipline serves a unique purpose in our spiritual formation, training us in godliness and deepening our relationship with Christ.

Walking in the Spirit

The Christian life is not lived in human strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16, KJV). When we walk in the Spirit, we produce spiritual fruit—"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV).

This walk requires daily surrender to the Spirit's leading, sensitivity to His promptings, and dependence on His power to overcome sin and grow in holiness.

Overcoming Temptation & Sin

Every disciple faces temptation and struggles with sin, but victory is possible through Christ's power. We are promised, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV).

Christ's power enables us to resist temptation, mortify sinful desires, and walk in holiness. Through His strength, we can experience progressive victory over sin patterns that once enslaved us.

Discipleship is both a calling and a journey. It requires us to embody love, obedience, fruitfulness, sacrifice, and humility whilst continually growing through God's Word, spiritual disciplines, and the Spirit's power. As we embrace these characteristics and commit to spiritual growth, we become more like Christ and fulfil our purpose as His disciples, bringing glory to God and pointing others to the Saviour who transforms lives…

Key Takeaways:

• Love is the identifying mark of discipleship – True disciples are known by their love for one another, mirroring Christ's selfless love
• Obedience flows from love – Keeping Christ's commandments is the natural overflow of a heart transformed by grace
• Disciples bear lasting fruit – Through abiding in Christ, we produce both character transformation and kingdom impact
• Daily self-denial is required – Taking up our cross daily means choosing Christ over self and surrendering our plans to His purposes
• Greatness comes through service – True spiritual greatness is measured by how we humbly serve others, not by self-elevation
• Transformation begins in the mind – Renewing our minds through Scripture is essential for spiritual growth
• Growth requires active effort – We must deliberately put off old patterns and put on the new life in Christ
• Spiritual disciplines position us for growth – Prayer, fasting, meditation, and Scripture reading create space for God to work in our hearts
• Victory comes through the Spirit – Walking in the Spirit produces spiritual fruit and enables us to overcome sin