Are you a disciple of Christ?  If you are a member of the Lord’s church, you are a child of God, but that is not the question.  The question is are you a disciple of Christ?  What is a disciple?  There are at least two characteristics shared by all disciples of Christ.  First, disciples are learners.  This is the definition of a disciple given by Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

“A student, learner, or pupil. In the Bible the word is used most often to refer to a follower of Jesus. The word is rarely used in the Old Testament. Isaiah used the term “disciples” to refer to those who are taught or instructed (Isa 8:16).” 

Are you learning?  We should never stop learning in Christ.  The moment we stop learning we cease being His disciples.

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus knows that the more we learn, the better we can follow Him, and following Jesus is the second characteristic that all disciples have in common.  I will have more on that in just a moment.

How do we consistently learn in Christ?  We do so by continuing in the Word.  Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31).  While the primary idea of abiding in the word of Christ has to do with following and obeying His words, it also involves studying it.  Disciples are learners because they are constantly in the Word of God, studying, meditating, and allowing it to dwell in their hearts (Colossians 3:16).  Does that sound like you?  Are you growing in knowledge?  Peter admonishes us to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:18).  If you are doing this, it is a good sign that you are a disciple of Christ.

A second characteristic that we all share as disciples is a likeness to Christ.

Luke 6:40 (ESV)
⁴⁰  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

This is where being a follower of Christ comes in once again.  We become like Christ by following Him.

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)
²¹  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Disciples of Christ follow in His steps.  Paul commended the church at Thessalonica because they became, not only imitators of him, but also of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:6).  They proved themselves to be true disciples of Christ by following in His steps.  This is the pattern of all disciples.  We look carefully at the life of Christ, and we strive to be like Him.  We will never reach His high standard of living because He was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:15).  We, on the other hand, sin from time to time.  If we deny this, the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).  Nevertheless, being a disciple of Christ does not demand that we be perfect like him, just that we do our best to be like Him.

Are you a disciple of Christ?  If you are a Christian, that is what the scriptures call you.  Let us make sure that we are disciples in deed, not just in name.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.