A soldier, an olympic athlete, and a successful businessman are all disciples. They all share some common characteristics that we will see is shared also with the disciple of Jesus Christ (2Ti.2.1-7).

A disciple of Jesus is one who is called to an all-important mission.

 “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt.4.19). A soldier in the American armed forces has an important mission to preserve liberty and justice for all.  But no one on earth has as important mission as that of the disciple of Jesus—to rescue eternal souls from hell, and to train them to do the same, training them to train others to duplicate that infinitely.

In view of eternity (how staggering this is) there is nothing, absolutely nothing, of any value except that which is pointed toward rescuing souls from eternal damnation. That is why we sleep, why we eat, why we work, why we take time off, why we raise a family, why we study in the ministry, why we watch and pray—to be a prepared and available instrument through which God is able to work to rescue souls from hell.

A disciple of Jesus is one who makes a decisive commitment of their whole life to fulfill the mission that God has called them to fulfill.

 “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him” (Lk.5.11). When a person joins the Armed Forces, he leaves home, family, and friends behind. There is a radical change of lifestyle. His life is submitted to an authority that tells him what to do and when to do it. All of this is pointed toward being able to accomplish the mission. It is a decision to burn your bridges behind you and totally throw your whole life into doing whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. It is a no-turning-back commitment. This is also what it takes to become a successful athlete and businessman. You can’t be wimpy and wavering and be a success.

 There is a time to bring your ships to land. There are certain things that you must do to get things squared away so you can focus on the thing before you. Then, there is a time to forsake all, a time of release, to turn your back on other involvements. And then, there is a time to follow him, to focus on the one thing before you. If these things are necessary to become a soldier, or an athlete, or a businessman, so much more to become a disciple of Jesus with the all important mission to rescue souls from hell.

A disciple of Jesus is one who has a continuous focus on serious preparation.
 “Be strong in the grace…commit thou to faithful men…able to teach others…endure hardness…please him…study…shun profane and vain babblings…purge himself…flee youthful lusts…follow righteousness …continue thou in the things which thou hast learned…the holy scriptures …be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Ti.2.1-7, 15-22; 3.14-17).

Soldiers, athletes, and businessmen have available to them a constant update on the latest guidance, technologies and strategies for success in their fields. In the same way, the disciple of Jesus is constantly being updated by the Holy Spirit in every area of their life, providing the guidance, the understanding, and the resources, so that they can always triumph in every way so that the savour of the knowledge of Jesus Christ is made manifest in every place (2Cor.2.14). The grace of God is all sufficient to overcome every obstacle so that we can accomplish our mission successfully. It is up to us to avail ourselves to this constant supply to us.

A disciple of Jesus is one who is motivated by the realization of the judgement of God upon the sin of all mankind. This realization motivates them to make “full proof” of their God-given ministry, regardless of the adversities or amenities set before them.
 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word…watch…endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2Ti.4.1-5).

 A similar vein of thought is expressed by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians: “…we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ …knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead...they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2Co.5.10-15).

 Soldiers, athletes, and businessmen show the results of their commitment to their cause. Paul, motivated by the realization of judgement on all and by the love of God, made “full proof” of his ministry, showing the 100% results of his 100% commitment to what God had called him to do. He realized that eternal souls depended on the decisions he made on a daily basis. That’s why he kept under his body. He didn’t want one crack in his armour. Souls depended on it. And he did it. He finished his course with joy and victory for a full reward in judgement day.

 God gave us this example to let us each know that we too, can be totally successful disciples by God’s all sufficient grace, and make full proof of our ministry with the exponential fruitfulness promised to Abraham.