The Ultimate Test of Discipleship

“If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Christ makes many demands upon his disciples.  It is the response a disciple makes to these demands that differentiates him from those who do not acknowledge the Lordship of Christ.  The Christian disciple’s standards are Christ’s standards and in all their ways and attitudes they strive to emulate the Master.

Christian discipleship implies noble living and good works, for it is impossible to live in close harmony with Christ without something of His loveliness being reflected.   Christians should be different from non-Christians in so many ways.  Not only does the Master expect this difference, but so do those people who offer him no allegiance and give him no love.  What is this essential difference?

The mark of true discipleship is the love Christians have for one another.  There can be good works without love, but they will lack the penetrative power of inspired discipleship and the faith will become a series of good works lacking inspiration and purpose.

Christ knows human weaknesses and offers us the love we lack to fulfil his purpose.

 It is this real Christ love flowing through us that will show that we are His disciples.

Bro David Banda Yelulani (Banket, Zimbabwe)