“The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian – especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God.” (The Great Omission, Dallas Willard, p.3)
Willard’s point in this car analogy is that being a disciple (student, apprentice) of Jesus is not the next step after becoming a christian, it is the first step that makes a person a christian.
It is impossible to be a christian and not be a disciple!
If we are not actively (imperfectly, with struggle and failure, but not giving up) seeking to be with Jesus, to talk with Him, to learn from Him and to serve with Him, then we are neither disciples nor christians.

How can we say that we believe in Him, if we do not sincerely strive to cling to Him, imitate Him, and join Him in His mission?
Yes, our efforts will be weak and we will go through seasons of drift and discouragement, but the heart within refuses to let go, and keeps on aiming for more of Him.
It is not “blessed are the righteous” but “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”, and that implies they are not there yet.
Like Paul, we forget what is behind us and press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us [Philippians 3:12-14].
This is the evidence of a disciple, a christian, a Jesus-follower.

Unfortunately being a ‘christian’ has come to mean ‘being saved’, and by that is meant ‘being forgiven’ and ‘going to heaven’.
But this is not what it means to be a christian.
Yes, a christian is saved, forgiven, and assured of life after death.
But these are fringe benefits that accompany being in Christ, in relationship or fellowship with God through Him.
This is what eternal life is, it is life in fellowship with God and Jesus and the Spirit – knowing Him personally and being known by Him [John 17:3, Galatians 4:9]!
And our part in this fellowship is worship, surrender, obedience, trust, dependence, all of which can be summarized by faith, hope and love.

This is how God unveils His kingdom here on earth, through His disciples who pray, “Your Kingdom come”, and strive with His help to make it so.
Only as I allow God to change the attitudes and habits of my heart to be more like Jesus, do I increasingly reflect the way or will of the King.
And only as I spend time with Him, talking with Him, learning from Him and serving alongside of Him, do I experience His Spirit changing me, producing the fruit of the kingdom life in me.

What this means is that every aspect of my life, including my home life, my hobbies, my work, my education, my forms of entertainment, all of these need to be brought under the authority of my King – purified by Him and dedicated to Him.
What this means is that this is my top priority, the thing that I seek first above all else.

As we hear the invitation of Jesus again – “come, follow me” – let us think deeply whether we are truly disciples, or just ‘christians’ in the empty, religious sense of the term.
Too many churches are filled with people who want forgiveness and heaven, but otherwise want little else to do with Him (except when things go bad, then they cry out to Him).
Too many people, when asked if they are ‘christians’, find false hope in their “belief” in the existence of God, of Jesus, of forgiveness and heaven, while practically speaking they live as if none of these things existed or mattered at all.
Too often I myself have fallen back into the rut of being a ‘christian’, while the Lord is asking me to spend my moments and my days with Him, for Him.

A christian in the proper sense of the term is a disciple; a disciple is a Jesus-follower.
All of these terms describe full-time students or apprentices of Jesus, wherever we are, whatever we do, intent on becoming like Him!
“The disciple is one who, intent upon becoming Christ-like and so dwelling in His “faith and practice,” systematically and progressively rearranges his affairs to that end.” (ibid, p.7)

Lord, increase the fire in my heart to know You, be like You, and love like You!