SOME LIMITATIONS OF IMITATION

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

My son clumsily walked into the living room sporting his little camouflage uniform and my combat boots. It was hilarious to see those huge boots on a four-year-old boy who wanted to be just like his dad. But as cute as it was, he was having an awful time walking. That perfectly illustrates some limitations of imitation. It’s not only important to figure out how to be like Jesus. It’s just as important to understand areas we will never be like Jesus. God may not expect you to be single all your life, wander the countryside of Palestine, have long hair and wear sandals, and live only 33 years. It’s important to identify the principles of becoming like Jesus and not just the forms. Attributes like compassion, obedience to the Father, introducing others to God, prayer, depth in God’s Word, etc., are principles we can all imitate. As we carefully read the Scriptures, we should ask this question, "How can I become like Jesus and practice the principles He modeled?”

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WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

Ever try to make something -- only to have it turn out to be a disaster? Many times, it's because we put something together without looking at the instructions. And then we wonder why it doesn’t work like it was designed to! The same thing can happen with making a disciple. In fact, Jesus has strong words for those who make disciples and have no clue what they're doing (Matthew 23.15). So what is a disciple of Jesus supposed to look like when we get done? Let me make this really simple. A disciple of Jesus is supposed to be like…well…Jesus! (Luke 6.40, 1 John 2.6, Ephesians 5.1) The first thing we need to do is to take a long, hard look at Jesus in the Scriptures and begin to emulate His character and ways. Then, we become not only a student of Him, but we begin to practice His ways and words and make them our own. The highest form of adoration is emulation. Now, we're on our way to becoming disciples of Jesus and making disciples.

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A DISCIPLE ASKS QUESTIONS

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

I recently complimented an atheist on the fact that he asked good questions. I met him in the Food Court while I was sharing the gospel with strangers. That led to a friendship where we would periodically get together and talk about Jesus. It was important for me to provide an safe environment, where he could ask any question he wanted. And he asked a lot of them. Jesus did the same thing with His disciples. And what were the results? They were given the mysteries of the Kingdom of God! (Mark 4.11) That's another crucial attribute of a disciple. They listen carefully and ask a lot of questions. As you read the Scriptures, ask God questions and pray that He will answer them. When you're around other Christians, ask questions. Have two or three questions ready at all times to ask Christian leaders. Become a good question asker. By the way, my atheist friend is no longer an atheist --He’s now a follower of Jesus!

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A DISCIPLE HUNGERS FOR TRUTH

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…" (Matthew 28.19)

I shared Jesus with a young man and he was very interested in learning more. I told him to begin reading the Gospel of Mark and we would talk about it the next time we got together. By our next meeting, he had not only read Mark --but Matthew, Luke and halfway through John, too. He really wanted to know Jesus, which was a demonstration of his hunger. He soon became a follower of Jesus and sure enough, God used the Living Word to change his thinking and his eternity (Heb 4.12, John 6.68). In every true disciple, there is a hunger for truth. They long to be set free from the bonds of lies and deception of this world and our enemy Satan (John 8.32). They boldly step into the light with integrity (John 3.21, Ephesians 5.9). Ultimately, it translates into a hunger for Jesus Himself (John 4.16; 18.37). A disciple of Jesus hungers for the truth!

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A DISCIPLE IS A GOOD LISTENER

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19)

When I was a kid, I loved the word 'okay'. It had magical power in pacifying instructing adults. “Make sure you do your homework.” Okay. “Clean your room.” Okay. Only the wise looked into my glazed little eyeballs and realized I didn’t hear a word they said. Have you ever treated God like one of those pesky adults interrupting your escape from reality? Jesus knew this propensity. He began the Parable of the Sower with “Listen!” (Mark 4.3) and ended with “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Mark 4.9). Later, He would give a strong warning about the way we listen (Mark 4:24-25). Even the Father weighs in on this matter, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” (Mark 9.7). The first skill we must learn as His disciples is to be a good listener. But how can we hear Jesus? God can speak to us in many ways, but His primary and clearest way to speak to us is through His Word, the Bible (Heb 4.12, 2 Tim 3.16). How well are you listening?

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INTENTIONALITY

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… (Matthew 28:19)

The simple act of purchasing four quarts of oil and setting them on the hood of your car doesn’t mean you changed the oil. Nor can you bake a cake by memorizing the recipe on the box. You have to intentionally finish the job. This is so apparent in the natural world. But when it comes to making disciples, we could over mysticize the process. Comments and attitudes like “That’s God’s department” or “I’m not Jesus” not only lack integrity and understanding of the Great Commission, but they also lead to disobedience. We must remember that even though the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the ultimate disciplers, we have been mandated to participate in the process. We must be engaged mentally, emotionally, and physically in helping others become more like Jesus. God does the heavy lifting, but are we playing our role in discipleship and following His command?

What does it take to make a disciple?

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