The word disciple means “learner.” A disciple is a pupil, one who comes to be taught. But a disciple is not a passively interested listener. The idea of a disciple is that of someone who listens to one who possesses full knowledge, drinking in every word and marking every inflection of the voice, with an intense desire to apply what has been taught. A disciple really wants to learn.
I daydreamed my way through a good portion of my early education. But I have found that I will listen when something is important to me. I must admit that when I fly, I don’t listen all that closely to the flight attendants’ safety instructions at the beginning of the flight. I note where the emergency exits are and then go on with whatever I am doing. If the plane were going down, however, and I knew that I had twenty minutes before impact, you can be sure I would listen carefully to any safety announcement made at that time.
Why? Because my life would depend upon it.
Our spiritual lives depend on knowing the Bible.
A disciple is one who listens carefully and pays attention, because the most important thing is to know what God requires, what God desires, and what God wills. What is the best way to discover these things? We find the answers to all of these questions in the Word of God. For to obey God in anything, we must first know what He asks.
