A disciple must be dedicated to his teacher. It is a cooperative venture because "'If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also'" (Jn 12:26). "'Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant'" (Mk 10:43). "'A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Lk 6:40). It is about support and obedience. "'Whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven'" (Mt 12:50) is Jesus' disciple. God's desire is for people to be "conformed to the image of His Son" (Ro 8:29) and "these whom He predestined, He also called" (:30). The calling is serious business. To be conformed to someone is to become like him. Paul said to "be imitators of God" (Eph 5:1) and "imitators of us and of the Lord" (1Th 1:6). In these verses from the NASB and also 1Co 4:16, 11:1, 1Th 2:14 and Heb 6:12 the KJV translates "imitators" as "followers." The concordance defines the Greek word mimeomai as to imitate, meaning to follow an example. Therefore followers are imitators. "You have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps" (1Pe 2:21). The Greek word epakoloutheo means to follow after.