ICS Daily Devotions
The Truth About Discipleship

John 15:5-8 (NKJV) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

These are very powerful verses about discipleship. Jesus is speaking to His men on his way to the garden of Gethsemane right before His crucifixion. He says, “…so you will be my disciples.” To be a mature disciple means to abide in God’s Word. It has to do with resting in God’s peace and presence. We cannot do anything from our own strength, we bear much fruit if we abide in God. As we know, fruit cannot be produced overnight. It is a constant and faithful process that makes us grow as disciples of Christ to bear more and more fruit.

Obviously, being a disciple of Christ is different than simply being a child of God who is “only” saved. We know how we are saved: through simple faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work. But what is a disciple of Jesus Christ? Disciple literally means “a learner; a pupil.” A disciple is a person of concrete action and commitment. Disciples make themselves available for training and devote themselves to a lifetime of learning and growth.

Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we become a true disciple of Christ. In other words, there is no way we can glorify God until we become true disciples. There is no way to hear “well done” from the Lord unless we have committed ourselves to become a disciple and submit to God’s will for our lives.

There was a young man who was eager to grow in his Christian life. He was on fire and listened to all different motivational sermons. In his zeal, he took a piece of paper and made a list of all the things he would do for God. He wrote down the things he would give up, the areas of ministry he would enter, and the places he would go to minister. He was excited! He took that list to the church and put it on the altar. He thought he would feel joy, but instead, he felt empty. He did not feel happy. What was going on? So he went home, meditated and thought everything through again. Then he started adding to his list. He wrote down more things he would do and wouldn’t do. He took the longer list and put it on the altar again. But still he felt nothing! He was puzzled. So he went to a wise, old pastor, told him about the situation and asked for help. The pastor said, “Take a blank sheet of paper. Sign your name at the bottom. Put that on the altar.” The young man did, and then peace came to his heart.

God is so close to us all the time. Yet, many times we miss to tune up the frequency of the channel so we can really hear Him. If you have a walkie-talkie and do not see the other person with your own eyes, you need to select the right channel to be able to talk to him. If you do so, suddenly the communication opens up. Some parents can complain to God that their teenage children do not communicate sufficiently with them. You may go for a longer business trip and try to connect via Skype calls and send numerous messages to them, but there is no response. Maybe they currently closed themselves into their own world and watch their favorite YouTubers. They know about your love, they know that you are around, but they do not take the contact. To know that you exist is enough for them. They are restless, yet they do things their own way because they think it is the best way. You as a parent can go crazy because you want their attention, but their response is so lukewarm. And you are disappointed. But to be honest: isn’t it how we often behave towards God as God’s children? Do we respond God’s Skype calls and messages?

It is Him who selects the channel of communication and we need to adjust. We come with many “good” ideas and hope that God will sanctify them. But He will not. The plan of salvation and our part in it is done on God’s terms through Christ. Let us then abide in Christ and bear much fruit as His disciples.

Sermon series: Being A Disciple Of Christ