How Long Have You Been a Disciple of Jesus?

Royal Priesthood, Holy Nation                                              Acts 1:2

How Long Have You Been a Disciple of Jesus?

by Robert T. Cooper

It may have been decades since you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It may have been mere hours. I became a disciple 53 years ago, as of this writing. Some have followed Jesus longer, some shorter.

The Apostles Jesus had chosen followed Him while He was alive on Earth for 3½ years. After the Resurrection, until the Ascension, Jesus appeared to the Apostles over a period of 40 days. All during the 3½ years and all during the 40 days, Jesus was giving instructions to the Apostles. A majority of those instructions also apply to us as disciples of Jesus. We find out about those instructions in the pages of the New Testament. It is important to absorb the New Testament into our hearts and lives so that we will live out those instructions, not as a set of legalistic rules, but as a natural way of life.

One interesting thing is that Jesus gave those instructions to the Apostles through the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus is God the Son, this is one aspect of His earthly ministry that He performed in the manner that you and I have to perform our ministries. We have to pay attention to the direction and promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we pray and as we meditate on the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit helps to adjust our thinking to the way God wants us to think. He helps us to make the right decisions. We can trust Him.

In summary, here are the three points:

1.      Jesus gave instructions. They are in the New Testament. Pay attention to them.

2.      Jesus had to pay attention to the Holy Spirit to do His earthly ministry. You need to pay attention to the Holy Spirit to do your ministry too.

3.      Jesus gave instructions to the apostles. A majority of those instructions apply to you. Since you are His chosen person to do His ministry today, He will see to it that you have all the instructions you need.

There are some advantages to having been a follower of Jesus for a longer period of time, but you have been in the faith quite long enough for everything Jesus has for you to do today. By the way, the word “disciple” means “learner.” In the comments section, leave me a note about some instruction you have learned lately.