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SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES (I)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
John 15:1-8

John 15:8

 

“Ye bear much fruit;

so shall ye be my disciples.”

 

SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES (I)
 
The term “disciple” means more than a mere pupil or learner. It is an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct (Zodhiates Spiros). Besides the special group of “the twelve” disciples (Matt 10:1-4) and later “the eleven” after Judas Iscariot’s betrayal (Mark 16:14), whom our Lord Jesus called, chosen, ordained and named apostles (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13), our Lord Jesus has also called many others, even us today, to be His disciples in the general sense. Our Lord says, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31) and here in John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
 
It is a great privilege to be a disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Creator, our Maker, and our King. It is vital for us to keep in touch with Him all the time, relying on Him, looking unto Him, trusting in Him, submitting to Him and His Word so that we may bear much fruit to glorify God.
 
Today, our Lord still requires us to follow Him through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word as He required His disciples (Matt 4:19; 9:9). Are we willing to follow Him wholeheartedly with our full commitment, love, loyalty, faithfulness, obedience, and submission? Our Lord does not count the quantity but the quality. It is easy for our Lord Jesus Christ to attract many people to follow Him by His miracles but He did not do so. He requires the commitment, faithfulness, loyalty and submission of His disciples, and He will not lower His expectations and standard. Jesus says that the narrow way leads to life, and few people find it (Matt 7:14). When many disciples murmured about Jesus’ teaching and then “went back and walked no more with Him,” our Lord did not run after them to please them, but challenged His twelve disciples, “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:60-68).
 
THOUGHT: We have to pay any cost to be Jesus’ disciples.

PRAYER: Father, please train me to be Thy good and faithful disciple.

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