Disciples of Jesus / Psalm 104

Articles

Kevin Heaton / Bible
01/21/24 - The Zephyrhills Beacon

(by Kevin Heaton)

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? The word 'disciple' means to be a follower or student of someone. Therefore, to be a disciple of Jesus we are to follow Him and be a student of His teaching. So, how are we to be a disciple of Jesus? The answer is found in what Jesus Himself said about what it means to be His disciple.

1) "Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you abide in My word, YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

How do I know if I'm a disciple of Jesus? By obeying His word & devoting my life to His will & not my own, then I am truly His. How do I know if others are truly followers? If they are obeying His commandments & devoting themselves to His word, then they are truly His.

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness'" (Matt. 7:21-23).

2) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. BY THIS ALL PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

True disciples of Jesus love like He loves. People will know that we are followers of Christ by seeing the love we have for others. If we do not love as He does, then we are not truly His disciples.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21).

3) "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES" (John 15:8).

If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, then we will produce the fruits of righteousness and godliness in our lives. We are know by our fruits; that is, by our actions, words, and thoughts. Disciples of Jesus prove themselves to be such by the way they live their lives.

"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" (Luke 6:43-45).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25).

In conclusion, to be a disciple of Jesus, we must become just like Him. We must follow His example: be obedient as He was obedient, love as He loved, and bear much fruit as He did in His life. Jesus said it best: "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40).

Psalm 104

(Bible)

Take time to meditate on these words from the psalmist and give praise to God our Creator!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

He lays the beams of His chambers on the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He rides on the wings of the wind; He makes His messengers winds, His ministers a flaming fire.

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that You appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.

From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted. In them the birds build their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees. The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep about. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens. Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which You formed to play in it. These all look to You, to give them their food in due season. When You give it to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are filled with good things. When You hide Your face, they are dismayed; when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in His works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more! Bless the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!"