To understand a disciple in Christ, you must first know what the phrase “A Disciplined person” means. A disciplined person demonstrates self-control, order, and adherence to rules or principles. This individual is often organized, focused, and committed to achieving goals or maintaining a particular lifestyle. Discipline can manifest in various aspects of life, including work, personal habits, and relationships.
Moreover, disciplined individuals can resist distractions, stay committed to tasks, and follow routines or plans. This trait is often considered valuable in personal development, professional success, and achieving long-term objectives. Whether it involves time management, work ethic, or adherence to ethical principles, a disciplined person exhibits consistency and perseverance in their actions.
The Modern Day Disciple in Christ
That said, it’s time to examine what it means to be a disciple of Christ from a modern-day perspective. I like using the term disciple in Christ as opposed to a disciple of Christ to distinguish the individual who is entirely in meaning whatever it takes to fashion oneself behind the discipline of what Christ has given as an example. A disciple would be someone who loves God with all their heart and mind and rejoices at the sight of justice; now, I must submit when you read the first couple of paragraphs, it seems like this is a difficult journey into obscurity and the proclivity of long hours of boring studies. Fortunately, this is not so, for Jesus states himself in scripture that his ways are gentle and restful for a weary soul as we see in Matthew 11:28–30, New American Standard Version reads:
Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is comfortable in my burdens is light.
In other words, it is not hard to follow God. However, a few elements that have not yet found their way into this conversation are essential to experience the above verse in its fullness, which we read previously. God also tells us in scripture that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). You will never give of your possessions, yourself, or even your life without God’s compensation back to you. After all, God has it to give—He is the one who said, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10).” Yes, the same God said, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts (Haggai 2:8-9).” I work for “That God! So yes, it’s not hard to follow Jesus Christ—It just requires a choice and a will to focus.
Nevertheless, the religious “In-Crowd” of the Western world, as you will eventually encounter at some time or another, will attend to sell you on the joys of suffering for the Lord. Well, here is the truth on that. Many of us were suffering before Christ, so we came into the faith street-wise already with a trained sense to observe and move in ways that allow us to get from point A to B without much resistance, which was dependence on mostly yourself. However, trusting God more and more to the point of experiencing God’s goodness motivates our belief in him while growing our faith. I think the following passage of scriptures sums it up quite nicely:
Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands. 2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. 4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. 6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;they will be remembered forever. 7 They will have no fear of bad news;their hearts are steadfast,trusting in the LORD. 8 Their hearts are secure,they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,their righteousness endures forever;their horn will be lifted high in honor. 10 The wicked will see and be vexed,they will gnash their teeth and waste away;the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Psalm 112 is the lifestyle we should all aspire to elevate toward, for it sets us upon a Christ Kingdom mindset and relationship with him. I summarize this as the Psalm 112 Lifestyle Experience. It excites me even more to talk to you about your Benefits Package.
Discipleship & The Benefit Package
As a Christian and more so as a Disciple in Christ, if you can imagine an over-the-top benefits package from the best company in the world, then know that your salvation package is so much more. Your Salvation Package includes a family birthright (1 John 3:1), power and authority to overturn darkness (Luke 9:1), all the while representing the family business and promoting the best product in the world—God’s love, a father’s love for you, me, and the world (John 3:16). It’s all starts with the precious gift of accepting salvation, and second, knowing your identity in Christ. These two things give us access to the Kingdom of God and the fullness of who we are. The key to your evolution as a disciple in Christ is not to be ashamed of the journey that got you here today. Whether you are from the rough streets of Survival or across the world living your best life, your benefits package uniquely celebrates your individuality of who you are and who you will be as you grow in the faith and knowledge of Christ. So, please don’t get caught up in idolatry by looking at others based on their outward appearance. Scripture tells us to imitate those who follow Christ regarding discipline, ways, and teaching (1 Corinthians 11:1-2, Ephesians 5:1-2). Your personality and individuality—your soul are the key ingredients needed to deliver this wonderful message of The gospel of Jesus Christ to a place where others cannot go, but you can.
Empowered To Do More!
Now that my rally pep talk is over, I think it’s time to get down to brass tacks regarding who you are in Christ and the job at hand. Although, in real life, there is no Superman, you are the closest thing to it: no red cape, blue tights, or an “S” on your chest. However, as a disciple of Christ, you are far greater than you could ever imagine when it comes to the world in which we live. As a new creature in Christ, you took on a unique identity within God himself. So powerful was this design that he created and called the new creation those who came after the resurrected Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, in much the same way as that of the Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, you were made in a similar triune. You are Spirit, Soul, and Body. I will expound on this topic in more detail shortly. In much the same way, the triune of the Godhead is divided into three, yet they operate as one, with each uniquely identifying characteristic that separates one from another, and so are you in this model.
Understanding the Spirit, Soul, Body 3-in-1 Model
I wanted to make sure that before leaving this topic, I had the opportunity to expound on and explain the spirit body model more in detail while hopefully making it digestible and easy to understand. The following three definitions I have laid out are meant to give you a pliable application of how this all works together.
Spirit: The heavenly flame of the Spirit of God, created within you when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). From this, created within you is a divine identity of spiritual DNA, which holds your birthright and signifies that you are a child of God.
Soul: The Soul is the “Watchman” set between the Spirit and Body that guards entry to either the spirit realm or that of the mind of the body. The soul identifies as your personality. It makes you, ‘You!’ This watchman is what we mature by continual learning of the teaching of Christ and practice of the intentional discipline of one’s self. Much like a person checking for email, the soul’s responsibility is to check the inbox of the Spirit to see if anything new has been deposited from the Spirit realm into the inbox and determine whether to accept it based upon whether it is from God or Satan.
Body: The body is the most advanced anatomical meat puppet in all existence. Specifically designed to house a spirit, which is also the power source for this wonderfully and fearfully made body. Because of the intentional limitations within the body (the body can’t fly, walk through walls, or perform physical transformation as in the spiritual realm), which God allowed by design, resulted in the personality of the soul within the body to experience love, sex, and the ability to procreate other like beings as oneself. In addition to this, God also allows the body to experience various ranges of emotions physically as well as freedom of choice. The most significant choice, of course, is achieved by receiving the gift of Salvation from God, yielding eternal life.
All in all, this is why scripture says that you are wonderfully and fearfully made. You are a free-will agent who has the choice and the ability to change the world around you (Psalm 139:14). What’s even more special is you being paired with the Holy Spirit Himself; even the earth acknowledges your presence because of the potential of the power of change which can come from your very lips (Luke 19:39-40). As said in this previous statement, the key is “You being with the Holy Spirit.” You must develop your mind by studying Christ’s teachings to comply with the scripture that tells us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV). Therefore, to successfully continue the journey as a disciple of Christ, you must take on the most precious gift that God has given us, which Jesus mentioned in John 14:26, expressed more entirely in the Amplified Bible Classic Edition, which reads,
26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
As a Disciple in Christ, your educational growth will continue as you commit to remain in the Scriptures for meditation, study, prayer, and guidance. In turn, the Holy Spirit will continue to give you revelation knowledge that you have not seen before scripture and bring new revelation of scriptures to you as you continue in this way. Finally, I ended here by saying God bless you and God’s speed to the journey ahead.
