I am no Greek scholar but I do know that the Greek word for ‘disciple’ is ‘mathetes’ (don’t be too impressed, I had to look it up to check the spelling!) This word means “one who learns instruction from another”. It was used in New Testament times as the same word for an apprentice to a tradesman or artisan. A disciple was not only someone who learnt, but also someone who copied and imitated their teacher by doing.

All of us as Christians are called to a life of discipleship, of apprenticeship to Jesus. This means we will not only learn about Him, but seek to put what He said and did into action for ourselves. If I am honest, I wrote that and then thought “Yikes!” – that’s really some undertaking isn’t it? How good am I at living like this?

As an Early Years teacher, I had to set targets for the young children in my care. Over the course of a year these were as varied as “begin to write the first sound in each word” or “learn to smile”. Obviously each child was very different and needed targets that were suitable for them. I would have been a rubbish teacher if I had set a target too low (“make a mark on paper with a pencil”), or too high (“learn to translate Latin prose”).

As our teacher, God is wonderful at target setting. He knows exactly what we are capable of and how we will reach the goals He sets for us. He never looks at our contemporaries and says something like “Ems should be learning what Claire is learning by now!” He doesn’t compare us. He simply completes us, finishing what He starts, every time.

The best disciples are those who commit themselves completely to their master. They are the ones who learn the most and get to know the master best. But unlike other masters, our Master has no self-interest. He is concerned only with our growth and maturity and loves to see us bearing fruit.

As Waylon Moore writes:

“Our union with Christ makes possible a life through which others can be saved. When a tree is so full of sap that it can no longer hold it, the result is fruit. When a Christian is full of Christ, others see Him and hear about Him “¦”

So today as you consider your Master, you may like to ask Him the following questions:
Jesus, how can I copy you more in my attitudes?
Jesus, how can I imitate you more in the way I work?
Jesus, how can I be more like you in my friendships?
Why not write down your thoughts and prayers and reflect on them this week.