“Everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher”

Since we have trusted God with our eternal life, does it not make sense that we can trust him with our earthly life? Why is obedience, aligning our wills with God’s will, so difficult? After all, isn’t obedience really just the tangible expression of our trust in God? Why do we find ourselves yielding to the cries of culture to “Be Yourself,” “Realize Your Potential” or “Be All You Can Be?” Of course when we succumb, we end up moving further away from who we really are in Christ. Genuine spiritual formation occurs when our life conforms to Jesus’ life. As born-again image bearers of God, we’re called not just to know about Jesus but to look like Jesus.

The first command Jesus issued to his disciples is “Follow me” (Mt 4:19; Mk 1:17). Note that the command to follow precedes the task they were called to. Who we are as followers of Jesus defines what it is that we are to do and never vice versa. We don’t become followers of Jesus by obeying but show that we are followers of Jesus by our obedience. Just as marriage is a genuine expression of love and commitment, so too is obedience a genuine expression of discipleship.

The word “disciple” (μαθητὴς) means a learner or conformer. Therefore, a disciple was one who adheres to someone’s teaching or instruction. In fact, it was a common first-century designation given to students. We find that there were disciples of John the Baptist (Mt 11:2), disciples of the Pharisees (Lk 5:33), and disciples of Moses (Jn 9:28). Being Jesus’ disciple is not merely gaining knowledge about him, but integrating what is learned into our lives. We want not only to be informed of our Master’s life, but transformed by his life as well. Jesus says that a “The student [μαθητὴς] is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” (Lk 6:40).

Interestingly, the first command is surely a prerequisite to fulfilling the last command Jesus issues (Mt 28:18-20). We must first be followers of Jesus before we can make disciples for Jesus. If our disciple making is not fruitful, could it be we are failing in following Jesus?

To Consider: Control is a deadly enemy to spiritual formation and disobedience is merely an attempt to gain or maintain control over our lives rather than live in accordance with Jesus’ commands.