By Pastor Felix Makanjuola

Billy Graham once said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have”. Disciples must be committed to Jesus as Lord. When General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was asked the secret of his amazing Christian life, he answered, ‘I told the Lord that He could have all that there is of William Booth”. In order to become disciples of Jesus Christ we must: “Deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him”.

Following Jesus has to cost us something. When we’re genuinely disciples of Jesus Christ, He quite literally becomes our way of life. Every action and every decision we make is made in the light of the popular acronym “WWJD” (What would Jesus Do)? Discipleship is a personal decision. We can’t be enlisted into discipleship by someone else nor will we be conscripted. It is a choice that we must make of our own volition.

So, who is a disciple? In plain terms, a disciple is an imitator, follower and apprentice. On the other hand, a disciple is not just a mere part of the crowd or a follower of trends, but a follower of Jesus.

How do you identify a disciple?

By their fruits (i.e. what they produce) you will know them (Mathew 7:20).

They are Christ like. In Philippians 2:5 Paul says, let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

They practice self-denial (John 12: 24-25).

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is evident in their life (Galatians 5: 2-23).