Discipleship is a crucial part of the Christian walk. Not only are we called to be discipled by the Holy Spirit; we are called to disciple and be discipled by the body of Christ. So what does discipleship mean anyways? In the Christian sense, discipleship is just a word for the process of becoming like Christ. Our aim as Christians should be to mirror Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

In John 8 verses 31 through 32, Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” We must press into discipleship so that we are truly holding to the teachings of Jesus and through living out His teachings, we will be set free. Furthermore, in Matthew 28 verse 19, Jesus commands us to, “go and make disciples of all nations.” This statement is monumental for the kingdom of God and makes it clear that it is impossible to be a true follower of Jesus outside of discipleship.

Growing in spiritual maturity is no accident. Being discipled by the Holy Spirit and by other believers is a life-long journey of being fashioned into who the Creator always intended for us to be. As the Holy Spirit continues to refine us, we have the choice to lean in or reject His leadership. Whether it’s in our thought life, our worldview, or the way we love those around us, the work of sanctification is never complete. As followers of Jesus, it is important that we are aware of the areas where we aren’t completely aligned with Him and be willing to allow Him and others to help us along the journey. A decision to lean in will always lead to more freedom and growing intimacy with the Lover of our souls.