Are you a disciple of Christ?  If you are in the church, you are a Child of God, but that is not the question.  The question is are you a disciple of Christ?  What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?  Here is the definition of a disciple.

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). 

The Complete Word Study Dictionary makes an important distinction between learning in general and learning that involves a connection to the teacher.

Complete Word Study Dictionary, The – New Testament.
“Mathēteúō must be distinguished from the verb mathéō (n.f.) or manthánō <G3129> which simply mean to learn without any attachment to the teacher who teaches. Mathēteúō means not only to learn, but to become attached to one’s teacher and to become his follower in doctrine and conduct of life.”

So, the question is, are you being taught by Christ?  Are you learning from Him?  We should never stop learning from Christ and the moment we do we stop being disciples of Christ.

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 what being a disciple of Christ is all about.

Where do we go to learn from Christ?  Primarily, we go to His teachings found in the New Testament.

John 8:31-32 (ESV)
³¹  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

These teachings are not just the ones taught directly by Christ but include the teachings of His inspired apostles.  Their words were His words.  Jesus once told them, “The one who hears you hears me…” (Luke 10:16).  The apostles were ambassadors who spoke in the stead of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Again, their words are found in the New Testament.  So, disciples of Christ know and are guided by the truth located in the Word of God.

I should point out that implied in all this is making application of the things that we learn from the words of Christ.  Continuing in His words denotes living by them.  That is the only way one can be rightly called a disciple of Christ.

What are we?  We are disciples of Christ.  Men and women who regularly study the Word of God, thereby learning from Jesus, and applying His teachings to our day-to-day living.  Let’s examine ourselves often to make sure that we continue to be true disciples.

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