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The Truth About Being A Disciple
What happens when the truth about being a disciple is finally seen?
What happens when the veil that once covered your eyes is lifted?
What does it truly mean to walk in discipleship and the truth of Christ?
I used to think I had those answers figured out. I believed I understood what it meant to follow Jesus. But recently, Christ has been leading me in a different direction, and my perspective on discipleship and the truth has shifted in ways I didn’t expect.
I’m not removing my previous thoughts about the cost of discipleship, because they are still valuable. In fact, I think they show growth—where I was then compared to where I am now.
The last few months have been hard. I’ve been in a place of wrestling with God, asking what true discipleship really looks like. Over and over, I felt Him urging me to count the cost of what I was praying for—even before I fully understood the weight of my own prayers.
When I go back to Luke 14:25–35, I can see clearly now how dim my focus once was. I truly thought I knew what it meant to follow Him, but I realize now that I was slightly off. And that’s the beauty of discipleship and the truth—it’s a continual unveiling, a deeper call to surrender, and a clearer understanding of what it costs to truly walk with Jesus.
Rightly Dividing The Word As A Disciple
I wanted to make this a series, because I know how short our attention spans can be these days. But this is too important to rush through.
One of the biggest problems I’ve come to see within the body of Christ is that we don’t truly exegete the Word of God. Over these last few months, God has shown me how often we fail to dig deep into Scripture and instead settle for surface-level understanding.
Exegesis means drawing out the original intent of the author’s message—understanding what God was truly saying through His Word in its proper context (2 Timothy 2:15).
On the other hand, eisegesis is when we read our own ideas, opinions, or emotions into the text.
This is dangerous. Why? Because altering God’s Word—whether by adding or removing—goes directly against His warning: “Every word of God is pure… Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5–6). When we do that, we risk giving ourselves or others false hope—or even deceiving ourselves entirely.
If we are going to grow as disciples of Christ and walk in discipleship and truth, we have to be good stewards of His Word. We must “rightly divide the word of truth” so that we won’t be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). When we handle Scripture properly, we step into deeper understanding, stronger faith, and a closer walk with Jesus.
Handling God’s Word with Fear and Reverence
I believe that if we’re going to truly handle God’s Word faithfully, we must approach the text within the context it was originally given.
Far too often, I’ve seen people in the pulpit preach something based on their own thoughts or opinions—this is eisegesis—and claim the text says something it simply doesn’t.
That’s incredibly dangerous. In 2 Timothy 2:15, you see Paul admonishing Timothy—or as I like to say, discipling him—to make sure he handles God’s Word correctly.
I often find myself praying, “Lord, please don’t let me say the wrong thing or misinterpret Your Word,” because I never want to lead anyone astray.
If we don’t carry a posture of humility when handling Scripture, we risk becoming prideful—thinking our ability to interpret it is some kind of personal accomplishment.
But interpreting God’s Word isn’t about our intellect or giftings; it’s a sacred responsibility that demands reverence and submission (James 3:1, Proverbs 3:5–7).
The truth about being a disciple is that it requires humility and full submission to His Word. I once heard someone say, “Don’t get so spiritual that you neglect knowledge, or so full of knowledge that you forget the Spirit.”
I’ve come to understand that true discipleship is a balance of both. Jesus told His disciples, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit and the Word work together—not in competition—to lead us into a deeper understanding of who Christ is and how we’re to follow Him.
A Moment of Reflection
I’ve had to ask myself: Am I following Jesus—or just following my own version of Him?
Am I truly understanding the weight and truth of being a disciple?
Maybe it’s time we all slow down and ask:
Have I truly counted the cost? Or am I coasting on someone else’s interpretation of what discipleship looks like?
What’s Coming Next
In the next post, I want to share more about what God revealed to me about performance-based religion, and how it kept me from truly understanding grace and obedience.
You might be surprised by what I learned.
Encouragement for the Journey
If you’re in a season where God is unteaching and reteaching you, know that you’re not alone. Don’t rush the process. The truth is worth it—even when it hurts.
Lord, help us to be students of Your Word, not just speakers of it. Keep our hearts soft, our minds open, and our pride low as we follow You.