What is Discipleship? A Recurring Theme and Working Model

In the last post, I talked about the relationship that Adam had with God in the garden. My point was that Adam was God's steward of the earth and that he was a mentor to Adam in that work. The text points out that God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day calling out for Adam. I would take this to be a normal activity between the two.

Other notable examples are:

Enoch, who "walked with God" and was so pleasing in relationship that he disappeared -- having been taken into God's presence in the unseen realm to continue their relationship.

Abraham, who was a friend of God and with whom God made enduring covenants. Abraham was the subsequent "model" of a trusting relationship with God.

Joseph, who God raised up from being a dreamer to being one who could reveal the meanings of others' dreams. God took this gifted young man, who excelled in all he put his hand to, and made him into the ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharoah, but only after taking him through years of hardship because of others' jealousy. God "worked with" Joseph to get him where he was destined to be.

Moses, who God spoke with as a man speaks with his friend -- face to face.

David, of whom the psalmists later wrote in Psalm 78, God "chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands." God used David's menial responsibilities to train him for great things.

In David's writings, you find an entire psalm (Psalm 25) which puts forward God personally teaching his people who want to learn his ways. God told him, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go. Do not be like a horse or mule who requires a bit and bridle." (Psalm 32)

In Daniel, who like Joseph before him was a trusted servant of kings, who excelled in all his doings. God worked with him to be a revealer of mysteries to gentile kings who respected him.

In Jesus, who as a man had a disciple's relationship with his Father in heaven. The nature of this is foretold in Isaiah 50:4-6 and lived out in the pages of the gospel accounts as day-by-day and night-by-night Jesus gets alone with his Father.

In the apostles, as Jesus worked with them in his personal way and in which they worked with the people who God united with them as they lived out their callings.

Much more could be said and there is a wealth of detail about this disciple-relationship with God himself. Have you ever considered that God may want to teach you in such a way so you can bring the life and lifestyle of his Kingdom into the world around you?

To recap simply, discipleship is the true nature of man's relationship with God. It was before the fall and it is for those restored from the fall. To assume that the only concern of people is to get their "peace with God" and then wait till the afterlife for the good stuff entirely misses the nature of life with God as it is intended to be.