The Disciples of Christ
2 - Followers
Last time I explained some of the meanings of the word disciple as it’s used in the Bible. We discovered that a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is, first of all, one who follows him. Then a disciple is one who learns from Christ, and lastly a disciple is one who imitates Christ. We learned that to imitate Christ is to model our lives on his life.
We are going to consider now the first of these descriptions in more detail as we look at being followers. In God’s Word, the Bible, there are some very good examples of some who, by responding to God’s call, willingly became His followers, or who followed the great servants of the Lord as they themselves followed Him. These worthy men and women followed lovingly and faithfully.
The first of these who comes to mind is Abraham whom we read about in chapter 12 of the book of Genesis. There it says that God told him to leave his country, people and family, and go to the land that God would show him. He was to leave not knowing where it was he was going to. But why? He was going because he was prepared to accept God’s instruction and leading without question! God’s promise to Abraham then was, "I will bless you and make you a blessing". Now God always keeps His promises, and so it is that we read in Genesis chapter 24 concerning Abraham when he was old that, "the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way". "God honours those who honour Him in every generation".
Another example is one of the twelve spies sent out by Moses to spy out the Promised Land. His name was Caleb and you can read about him in Joshua chapter 14 where he is speaking to Joshua, the new leader of the Children of Israel. He says: "I was 40 years old when I was sent to explore the land, and I brought back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people sink. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly". Because of this faithfulness Moses promised Caleb a special part of the land as an inheritance. Someone has said: "Oh to be like Caleb! One who followed the Lord with his whole heart!" May that be your prayer and mine today!
Perhaps the most striking example of dedicated following is seen in the story of Ruth the Moabitess. Her story is recorded in the Old Testament book which carries her name. Ruth married Mahlon, one of the two sons of Elimelech, a man of Bethlehem in Judah. Because of a famine Elimelech took his family into the country of Moab. This was a country whose people worshipped many different gods. It was whilst they were living in Moab that the two sons of Elimelech married. Naomi, Elimelech’s wife, was a godly woman, and it is obvious that she introduced her daughter-in-law, Ruth, to Jehovah, the one true God. Sadly, during the ten years in Moab, both Elimelech and his two sons died. Because of this Naomi decided to leave Moab and return to her own land of Judah. Ruth and her sister-in-law Orpah determined to go with Naomi. On the journey back to Judah, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law "Go back each of you, to your mothers’ home". At first they both resisted the idea, and weeping said to her, "No, we will go back with you to your people". But Naomi continued to plead with them not to accompany her any further.
The Bible story then tells us that "At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her." Will you note the contrast! Orpah kissed Naomi and went back, but Ruth clung to her and went on. Orpah went back Moab, to her people and to their gods, but Ruth went on to a new people and the true God of Israel. The detail of all that Ruth said to Naomi really sums up what true discipleship is. What she said was a statement of total commitment.
Let me quote her words to you: "Where you go - I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried with you." And as if to emphasise this total commitment, Ruth said to her mother-in-law, "May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me". The Bible then tells us that when Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her to return to Moab. Ruth was reaching out in faith to God and was prepared to take the tough demanding action required to be a true follower. Eventually, through her marriage to Boaz, Ruth became a channel through which God brought into this world His precious Son, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. So, we see in the experience of Ruth, how God is prepared to bless those who listen to His Word and dedicate themselves to His cause.
True disciples of Jesus are those who are prepared to follow Him -even to give their lives for Him. Let me remind you of the words of the Lord Jesus Himself as recorded in Matthew chapter 16 verse 24: "If anyone will come after me, he must deny himself and follow Me". May you, like Abraham, Caleb and Ruth be determined to wholeheartedly follow the Lord as His disciple.