“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)
More Than Knowing About Jesus
What does it actually mean to follow Jesus?
For many of us, the answer might come easily. We go to church, read our Bibles, pray, serve, and try to live good lives. These are all important parts of our faith, but it's possible to do them without allowing them to change us. We can attend church every Sunday without giving much thought to what we've heard, read Scripture simply to check it off our list, or know a great deal about the Bible while struggling to put its teachings into practice. The danger isn't in these spiritual habits themselves. It's in confusing the habits with the goal. Jesus didn't invite people to follow a checklist. He invited them to follow Him.
When Jesus called His first disciples, He invited them into a relationship that would change the direction of their lives. They spent time with Him, listened to His teaching, observed how He treated people, and learned what it meant to live according to God's kingdom. They witnessed His compassion for the hurting, His patience with those who struggled, and His willingness to serve others. Over time, their relationship with Jesus changed who they were. The same invitation is extended to us today.
In Romans 8:29, Paul describes God's purpose for believers as being conformed to the image of His Son. God's desire isn't simply that we know more about Jesus. He wants us to become more like Him. As we grow closer to Jesus, His teachings begin to influence our decisions, His compassion changes the way we see others, and His forgiveness challenges the grudges we've been holding. The more time we spend with Him through Scripture, prayer, worship, and relationships with other believers, the more opportunities we have to be shaped by His character.
Of course, these changes don't happen overnight. We will still struggle with selfishness, lose our patience, and sometimes choose what is comfortable over what is right. We are imperfect disciples, but our imperfections don't mean that God has finished working in us. Through His Spirit, He continues to shape our hearts and teach us what it means to follow Him. Discipleship isn't about pretending we've already arrived. It's about continuing to follow Jesus as He changes us.
A Daily Invitation
In Luke 9:23, Jesus tells His followers to take up their cross daily. Following Jesus isn't a decision we make once and then set aside. It's a commitment that shapes the ordinary moments of our lives. It's choosing patience when we're frustrated, extending grace when someone disappoints us, being willing to serve when we'd rather be comfortable, and trusting God's wisdom when our own understanding falls short. Sometimes following Jesus requires significant sacrifices. Other times, it looks like small acts of obedience that no one else will ever notice.
Jesus also calls us to participate in His mission. In Matthew 28:19–20, He commands His followers to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything He commanded. Our faith was never meant to remain something we keep to ourselves. As we become more like Jesus, we begin to see opportunities to encourage others, share the hope we've found in Christ, and help others grow in their faith. We also need relationships with other believers who will encourage us, challenge us, and walk alongside us as we grow. Discipleship was never intended to be a solitary journey.
It's easy to become discouraged when we recognize areas where our faith has become routine or where we've resisted God's direction. However, recognizing those areas isn't an invitation to shame. It's an opportunity to grow. Perhaps your next step is spending more intentional time in Scripture, allowing a difficult teaching of Jesus to challenge an attitude you've been holding onto, or building deeper relationships with other believers. Whatever that step looks like, remember that the goal isn't simply to become a more disciplined person. The goal is to become more like Jesus.
We don't follow Him because we've already figured everything out. We follow Him because we trust Him to lead us, teach us, and continue the work He's begun in us. Each day brings another opportunity to respond to His invitation, allowing our relationship with Him to shape the way we think, the way we love, and the way we live.
Reflection Questions
When you think about being a disciple of Jesus, do you tend to focus more on what you know, what you do, or how you're becoming more like Him?
Are there spiritual habits in your life that have become more about completing a task than connecting with Jesus? How could you approach them differently?
Where have you noticed God changing your attitudes, priorities, or relationships as you've grown in your faith?
What's one practical step you can take this week to follow Jesus more intentionally?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for inviting us to follow You, even though we are imperfect and still have so much to learn. Forgive us for the times we've treated our faith like a list of things to accomplish instead of a relationship with You. Help us to seek You with sincere hearts, allowing Your Word and Your Spirit to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
Teach us to reflect the compassion, humility, patience, and love of Jesus in our everyday lives. Give us the courage to follow You when it's difficult and the wisdom to recognize opportunities to share Your love with others. Remind us that we don't have to have everything figured out today. We simply need to keep following You, trusting that You are continuing Your work in us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Dig Deeper
Read Matthew 28:18–20. Jesus commands His followers to make disciples and teach them to obey His commands. How does this passage expand your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus? What role can you play in helping someone else grow in their faith?
Read Romans 8:28–30. Paul describes God's purpose for those who love Him. What does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ? How does this change the way you think about spiritual growth?
Read 2 Corinthians 3:17–18. This passage describes the transforming work of the Spirit. What encouragement does it offer when change feels slow or difficult?
Read John 12:24–26. Jesus connects following Him with serving Him. What might it look like to follow Jesus more faithfully in your current responsibilities, relationships, and opportunities?