I remember a time when my son was much younger and he came to me asking if he could sign up to play little league baseball. As one who grew up playing the game it made me happy to hear those words. But in the next instant, knowing my son as only a dad could, I said to him, “If you want to play I will be glad to sign you up, buy you all the equipment, and be sure you make it to all your practices and games. For mom and me to do that, I only want one thing from you – I want you to be sure you really want to play and tell me you are willing to go to every practice without complaining!” I then proceeded to describe to him the commitment he was making if he moved forward in having us sign him up. He went away and thought about that for a bit and then came back to me to inform me that, no, he really didn’t want to play after all. On the one hand, I was disappointed because as one who loved playing the game of baseball growing up I would have loved for my son to play but, on the other hand, I was immensely proud of him and how he thought it through and came to the conclusion he didn’t want to commit at that level.

In John 8:31, I see Jesus establishing a truth in much the same way I did with my son years ago. There were those who “believed in Him” having experienced His ministry and presence firsthand. These young “believers” – not to be confused with how we define that word in the church today… they were more like “professors” –  were about to be taught a valuable truth by Jesus, though. That truth is this – a true choice to believe in Jesus is a choice to become a disciple, and a disciple will hunger to be just like Him. We live in a day and age where Christianity has divided followers of Christ into two groups – believers and disciples. Believers believe in Jesus, own a Bible, go to church, and try to do what is right, but disciples, well, those are those “radical believers” who really take this whole Christianity thing seriously. They actually DO believe in Jesus, they actually DO own a Bible AND they read/study it to, and they actually DO desire to be conformed to the image of Christ and always strive to do “right” with “right” being defined in His Word.

Here’s the interesting, and most challenging, thing we need to consider – unlike modern Christianity, Jesus only defined one type of believer, not two. The one who is a believer in Him must also be a disciple… there’s no “easy believism” with Jesus. Oh, and those who truly believe in Him will abide – dwell in, live in, fully occupy themselves within, be encompassed by – His Word! So, Steve, you’re telling me that what He is saying is if I say I believe in Him then I must also choose to be a disciple of His, and a disciple of His is one who loves, studies, and fully lives out His Word? Yep, that is what I am saying!

Make no mistake and don’t be led astray by modern Christian thought – we are confronted with the same choice in Christ that I gave my son so many years ago. Just saying you want to play the game, wear the uniform, and show up for games doesn’t make you a ballplayer. To become a ballplayer means full commitment, work, and sacrifice. In the same way, saying you believe, putting a fish on the back of your car and wearing Christian t-shirts, and going to church on Sunday doesn’t make you Jesus’ disciple. To be a disciple means full surrender, discipline, dying to self, and the willingness to truly follow Him and obediently live out His Word.

This continues to be a daily challenge to me personally! As I daily view my life through the lense of His Word, I am confronted with the areas of my life that I haven’t fully let the Word of God dwell richly within, and where I have chosen to not abide within His Word. It is painful to be sure, but necessary if I truly want to be His disciple, and not just a mere “believer.”

How about you? Are you truly a disciple or merely a believer or “professor” of Christ? The Lord is calling you to join in on the journey of being more “conformed to the image of Christ” and to not be satisfied with simply believing.

Until next time… strive daily to fully abide in Him as His disciple!