Follow Me as I Follow Christ

When I was 14 years old I went on a camp that I didn’t want to go on.

It was a Christian camp with a bunch of people I didn’t know. I had been saved for several years by that stage but had just begrudgingly moved to a new church and was not very happy with God. I went on the camp to please my parents but I was completely determined to not have fun.

On the fourth night of the five day camp I dedicated my life to the Lord and it changed me. I made the commitment that whatever God wanted me to do with my life I would do.

Over the next two years I read my brand new Bible so much it fell apart. After high school I went to Bible school (twice) and I am currently getting my degree in biblical theology. I am also starting the process of entering full time ministry. 

All because I made a commitment one night at camp… 

…and because for the year that followed someone poured their life into me.

I didn’t know that it was called “discipleship” when Nicole was discipling me, but I know that if she hadn’t done so, my life may not be where it is now. Because Nicole helped me memorize Scripture, gave me books to read, helped me learn how to do a regular quiet time, answered many of my questions regarding faith, listened to my teenage sob stories and lived a life I wanted to imitate; I started to behave in a Christlike manner. I wanted to be like Nicole and because Nicole was living in a way that imitated Christ, I also started imitating Christ.

A life worth following  

Jesus taught His disciples using words but He also taught His disciples simply by living a life of example that they were able to follow. And these men, after Jesus left, went on to impact the world. Through watching the way Jesus lived the disciples learned invaluable lessons.

“I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from the world. They were yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.” – John 17:6

God gives us certain people that we can impact at different times in our lives. If we are to be Christlike, it is important that we disciple these people. The word “disciple” can seem formal and scary, but it’s simply living a life that others can follow so that they can become more like Christ. 

Just like I never knew that Nicole was discipling me until years later, you do not have to make your relationship one where you approach someone and say “I am discipling you now”. It can simply be you making the decision to help someone in their walk with the Lord where they need it. Living in such a way that if that person were to live like you were living, they would look more like Christ than they did before.

Paul told his followers “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). I want to be the kind of person that if people start living the way I am living they look more like Jesus. I encourage you to do the same.