Following Jesus – Be Worthy of Being His

by Brynn Greene

I’ve been a Christian almost my entire life.

I grew up in a Christian home. My family went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday.

My parents were leaders and teachers in the church. We were involved with all the things:

• Potlucks
• Vacation Bible School
• Youth trips

Often, I think my story is not enough. I officially declared my commitment to follow Christ when I was 14.

That was one of the most glorious days of my life. I was surrounded by people who loved me and literally circled around me and showered me with songs and words of encouragement.

But my story is not an inspirational story of a life of wild parties and rebellion before finding God. I didn’t meet God on a mountain, mission trip, or during my darkest hour.

I simply listened to those around me and started to read the Bible and develop my own faith, step by step.

Every Story of Following Christ is Important

God can use every story, from the most mundane to the most extraordinary. He does not want any soul to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

The above illustration is not to say I didn’t have seasons where my faith was tested and my doubts threatened to overcome my faith. I still made mistakes and poor choices.

Even now, as an adult, I still find myself asking questions and making mistakes. I have experienced times when I followed Jesus’ example wholeheartedly and other seasons when my faith was stagnant.

And I can say with full confidence that following Jesus Christ is the best way.

Following Christ is often the only way I find peace in a daily life filled with mountains of laundry, financial scarcity, and parenting strife.

Because let’s face it, the struggle is real.

The last few years have opened my eyes wide to this fact. My family has dealt with job losses, major child behavior challenges, family deaths, and more.

And through it all, with tears and sometimes angry shouts to God (both are okay), I have found the peace that surpasses understanding.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

So What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?

Matthew 16:24-27 (NLT) records Jesus stating the following:

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?“

When we follow Jesus, we give all our cares and worries to God. While that sounds (and is) hard many times, it is also freeing…

• To know we don’t have to face this world alone.
• To know we have someone to whom we can always turn to.
• To know a God who is never changing.

Giving up our life saves our souls. In this world, we try to fill the void of our souls with drugs, social media, and even our kids.

But only God can fill us completely.

What Does the Bible Say About Following Jesus?

The entire Bible points to Jesus and the redemption story. From beginning to end, that is what the whole book is about.

He is the way and the truth and the life. No one can get to heaven except through Jesus. (John 14:6)

Consider These Following Jesus Scriptures

John 8:12 (NLT) – “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 14:16 (NLT) – “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'”

Matthew 6:33 (NLT) – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

John 3:30 (NLT) – “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

According to these scriptures, if we want eternal life, just declaring our faith once isn’t enough. We must make a continuous effort to put Him and His people and His kingdom first.

Why Should We Follow Jesus?

In a world where truth is relative and culture is changing faster than the speed of light, why should we follow Christ?

God is the only constant in this life.

You will have trouble in your life, your life today will change, and you may not live to see tomorrow.

We are told to by God in His word. Matthew 10:38 says, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Whoa. Whoa.

Why I Follow Jesus

Because Jesus lives, I can face tomorrow. Jesus came down to Earth and died for us and then He conquered death!

How Do I Know He Lives?

• I know God lives by the gentle breezes he gives me on a hot summer day.
• Through the Bible verses and emails He shows me at the precise moment I need them.
• I’ve seen God’s power in the words written in my kids’ jagged writing stating Jesus loves me.

How to Follow Jesus Every Day

Deciding to follow Jesus may be the simplest thing you ever have to do. John 3:16 says that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.

Choose to believe and follow Jesus, and God will take care of the rest.

The rest is a lifelong endeavor. The more you know Jesus the more you want to know. You will spend your whole life learning how to follow Jesus Christ.

We simply need to take baby step after baby step and keep our eyes on Jesus.

What Does Following Jesus Look Like?

Following Jesus will be a little different for everybody. God made you and me in his image. We were made to glorify Him.

We follow Jesus by being obedient to his word and by turning to him every day. Will we do this perfectly every time? No, but the great thing about God is that he meets you where you are.

Following Jesus is the Only Option

This post has just briefly touched on what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Even though being a follower of Christ is lived out differently for each of us, the fact remains that it isn’t optional. As we saw in Matthew 16:24-27 earlier, it is required of us to “give up our own ways, take up our crosses, and follow Him.” We must lose our lives to save them or we lose them for all eternity. He set the example when He gave up His life and died on the cross because He loves us (and because God told Him to).

To find out more specifically what following Jesus looks like for you, you just need to pray and read His word.

All the other things (books, articles, and podcasts) are great, but to have a personal relationship with God, you have to get to know Him and Him alone. And you have to let Him get to know you, too.

It’s similar to dating.

You could ask friends/family their opinions, stalk your date’s social media accounts, and read about or Google the person. While none of those are bad things, they can’t replace simply getting to know your husband- or wife-to-be.

And the only way you do that is by talking to them and spending time with them.

So talk to Jesus, get to know Him through the Bible, and spend time with Him in prayer and worship.

{Related – 40 Ordinary and Practical Ways to Worship God Everyday}

Remember, everybody is at different stages of their faith. Your walk and your story are important, and they matter, too.

God cares about all the details, from the mountaintop experiences to studying your Bible in your bedroom. So let Him in.

It won’t always be easy. Culture is constantly telling us to focus on ourselves, and Satan is constantly trying to get us to fall away from God, especially when things get tough. But following Jesus in this life is the only way to spend eternity with God.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to experience the amazing life God has planned for you by really and truly committing to follow Jesus? Comment below and let us know!

PS If you don’t yet know Jesus as anything more than some guy who lived a long time ago, check out this post to learn more about how you can experience a relationship with One who loves you more than life itself!

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