A New Way of Being: 10 Lessons From the Sermon on the MountSample

Day 1: Being a Disciple

You are about to enter a journey—a journey as a disciple. Imagine yourself walking the path that Jesus and His 12 disciples walked. This encounter will change you and, hopefully, establish you more firmly in your faith. The purpose of this devotional series is to prepare you for growing as a disciple.

Over the next 10 days, we will reflect upon the message Jesus gave his disciples on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. May these devotions be a catalyst for reflection and growth as you put yourself in the mindset of ancient Israel.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? The word, disciple, simply means learner. As Jesus speaks to his disciples, he gives a clear picture of what being a disciple entails.

First, a disciple is an individual who acknowledges his or her spiritual emptiness and need for Jesus. He says that a disciple should be poor in spirit which doesn’t necessarily mean physically impoverished, but is instead, focusing on the spiritual poverty of a person without Jesus. 

Second, a disciple will experience brokenness. Jesus says that a disciple will mourn. But our sadness is not without hope. All pain is short in comparison to eternity and as Christians we believe Jesus can heal the brokenness of our hearts and the problems we face. As disciples, we mourn the spiritual darkness of the world (Rom 9:1-3). We also mourn over our own sin (Ps. 51:17).

Third, a disciple should trust in Jesus’ righteousness alone. Because a disciple recognizes, first, his or her own need for Jesus and his goodness, a disciple should long for Jesus’ perfect record. The world tells us to desire happiness and pleasure. As a result, people try to fill their lives with entertainment, food, or relationships that can fill the sense of purpose. But Jesus is the only one who can forgive sins, heal spiritual brokenness, and give eternal purpose.

Fourth, a disciple should strive to share the peace in Jesus with those who do not know him. Being a peacemaker does mean that a disciple seeks harmony between people, but even more specifically, a disciple must share the peace he or she has found with God through Jesus. Wars and turmoil will exist until Jesus returns, but true and lasting peace can only be found in relationship with God. As the apostle Paul writes, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God” (2 Cor 5:20).

Questions to Ponder:

How will I give of my life as a disciple? Am I willing to give of my energy, time, and resources for Jesus?