How to Be a True Disciple – Matthew 5:1-12
The Beatitudes is probably the most famous sermon ever uttered. Jesus spoke while sitting on a common mountain. But when He spoke, people were moved because they’d never heard anyone speak with such clarity and conviction. In Matthew 7:28 it says, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”
No wonder disciples started following him. For three and a half years they watched, listened, observed, and asked questions. They learned from Jesus by following and imitating Him. But where do we start? How can we become true disciples. We can use the Beatitudes as our framework, but we’re going to need some help.
To be able to fulfill the essence of the Beatitudes, we need to learn from the Master who spoke them. We need to learn directly from Jesus, even though some of us think we already know it all. We hear references to Scripture verses, and we say to ourselves, “I know that one already.” And maybe we do. At least on the surface. But I want you to try to study the Gospels like you’ve never studied them before. Pray for understanding and then look at them with fresh eyes. Odds are, you’ll find something there that you’ve never noticed before. Something that can mean all the difference.
But we also have to do more than just learn from Jesus. We have to put that learning into practice, because true learning has to be lived out. Jesus put it this way in Luke 6:40: “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be[come] like his teacher.”
So, here’s how to live out what you’ve learned. Begin by cultivating an obedient heart. The true test of whether we love Jesus and whether we’re learning from Him is if we put into practice what we hear. We can’t say we’ve really learned something until we’re living it out. Jesus said it strongly in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
So, cultivate an obedient heart and then, live out one of the Beatitudes each day. Jesus is calling us today to love him more. He longs for us to learn from him, and he’s pleased when we live like we’re supposed to.
The birth of Christ brought God to us, but it took the cross of Christ to bring us to God. Hebrews 10:11-14 says, “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But …this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
So, be made perfect through Jesus. Become a true disciple!
