John 13:35

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia says this about disciples. “In all cases it implies that the person not only accepts the views of the teacher, but that he is also in practice an adherent. The word has several applications. In the widest sense it refers to those who accept the teachings of anyone, not only in belief but in life.”

That is what it means in the broadest terms but what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus.

Luke 14:27

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

John 8:31

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

John 15:8

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

In reviewing the above definition we will see the words “in practice an adherent”. That word adherent reminds us of glue. Wherever He goes we go, where we go He goes. We cannot escape His abiding presence. There is one more descriptor I left out.

John 13:35

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

The disciples of Jesus Christ are defined by love more than any other principle. It is not enough to study and believe, we must enact the life that abides in us and allow love to rule our every thought and desire. We will not bear fruit without it.

Do we consider ourselves a student or an adherent? It is after all just the difference between life and living.

Genesis 4:7

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

God speaks to Cain and encourages him to take control of his life. Then Cain murders his brother Abel.

That is perhaps the last thing any of us wants to hear when we are seeking validation. There is a very human desire to be accepted. It began with Cain and still we struggle with seeking acceptance by our God.

2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Do our best, once again it appears to be on us to fight off shame. This is about self assurance. Validation seeks approval from others, even God, it is rooted in ego, that drives the psychological part of the human brain that strives to excel.

What is missing between these two verses of scripture is sin. Where we were asked at first to handle sin we are now asked to handle truth. 

A healthy ego does not need to be stroked. There is the danger of a healthy ego taking credit for a life lived rather than glorifying God who gave us this life in Christ.

We begin this life in Christ trying to forgive ourselves for all the mistakes we made that led us to needing a savior in the first place. It is about us seeking forgiveness. In Christ we find forgiveness. As we mature love seeks to help others that follow after us in this life in Christ.

Validation switches from self awareness to the success of our disciples. We are asked to make disciples. What happens to validation if we have no disciples?

Allow me to answer that with the same words used by Cain; “Am I my brother’s keeper?”