The Lifestyle of a Follower of Jesus
Following Jesus is about the journey. It's about the way we live our lives until we get to be before the Lord. And if we aren't being changed over a period of time, then we're not truly following. We're just spectating.
Jesus made this crystal clear in John 8:12 when He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Following Him should reflect in our lifestyle, in the very way we live. So what does that actually look like?
Jesus made this crystal clear in John 8:12 when He said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Following Him should reflect in our lifestyle, in the very way we live. So what does that actually look like?
1. A Follower of Jesus Abides in His Word
Jesus said in John 8:31, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples." That word abide means to stay, to live, to remain in the same position over a period of time. This isn't about treating the Bible like a spare tire, only used in case of emergency.
When we abide in His word, we're letting Jesus rewrite our thinking. Before we renew our minds in Christ, all our minds are skewed by the world. Your spirit got saved, but your mind? It's still controlled by this culture until you intentionally renew it by spending time in God's Word.
A follower of Jesus doesn't just mix in a little bit of Jesus into an already skewed worldview. We allow God to completely rewrite the story; how we view marriage, money, forgiveness, justice, everything.
When we abide in His word, we're letting Jesus rewrite our thinking. Before we renew our minds in Christ, all our minds are skewed by the world. Your spirit got saved, but your mind? It's still controlled by this culture until you intentionally renew it by spending time in God's Word.
A follower of Jesus doesn't just mix in a little bit of Jesus into an already skewed worldview. We allow God to completely rewrite the story; how we view marriage, money, forgiveness, justice, everything.
2. A Follower of Jesus Loves Sacrificially
Jesus gave us a new commandment in John 13:34-35: "Love one another just as I have loved you... By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another."
He didn't say the world would know us by our preaching, our worship volume, or how many Bible verses we know. He said they'd know us by our love for one another. And the standard? The way Christ loved us, while we were yet sinners.
This means forgiving enemies, serving unconditionally, laying down our lives for others, covering weaknesses instead of exposing them, and carrying the burdens of the hurting.
Love is the family resemblance of followers of Jesus.
He didn't say the world would know us by our preaching, our worship volume, or how many Bible verses we know. He said they'd know us by our love for one another. And the standard? The way Christ loved us, while we were yet sinners.
This means forgiving enemies, serving unconditionally, laying down our lives for others, covering weaknesses instead of exposing them, and carrying the burdens of the hurting.
Love is the family resemblance of followers of Jesus.
3. A Follower of Jesus Bears Fruit
In John 15:8, Jesus said, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and prove to be my disciples." This is the proof, not how often you come to church or how much Bible you know, but whether there's evidence in your life that you're connected with God.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Look back over your life for the last few days.
Have those things been evident? Or have you been hateful, irritated, agitated, and lacking self-control? That's the flesh, not the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Look back over your life for the last few days.
Have those things been evident? Or have you been hateful, irritated, agitated, and lacking self-control? That's the flesh, not the Spirit.
4. A Follower of Jesus Denies Self
This is the one nobody wants to hear in our "you do you" culture. But Jesus was clear in Luke 9:23: "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."
Notice the order: first deny yourself, then take up your cross, then follow. You can't skip steps one and two and just get to be a follower. Most of us, the biggest obstacle in following Jesus isn't the devil. It's ourselves.
Self-denial means refusing to let self-centeredness lead your life, surrendering the throne of your heart to God, and laying down your rights, preferences, ego, and control.
As a believer, you have no rights. Paul said, "You are bought with a price. You do not belong to yourself."
And taking up your cross? In Jesus' day, a cross meant one thing...death. It's an active voluntary choice to die to the desires of your flesh, your pride, your stubbornness, your sinful habits.
All of us ought to be dead men walking.
Notice the order: first deny yourself, then take up your cross, then follow. You can't skip steps one and two and just get to be a follower. Most of us, the biggest obstacle in following Jesus isn't the devil. It's ourselves.
Self-denial means refusing to let self-centeredness lead your life, surrendering the throne of your heart to God, and laying down your rights, preferences, ego, and control.
As a believer, you have no rights. Paul said, "You are bought with a price. You do not belong to yourself."
And taking up your cross? In Jesus' day, a cross meant one thing...death. It's an active voluntary choice to die to the desires of your flesh, your pride, your stubbornness, your sinful habits.
All of us ought to be dead men walking.
The Beautiful Truth
Here's what's beautiful about all this: God isn't telling you to just try harder. He's saying come closer. If you're not following Him the way you should, it's because you're not close enough to Him. It's not about working harder, it's about coming closer.
And He's not calling you to be perfect. He's calling you to be surrendered, to move in His direction, to trust the One who carries you.
Stop being a spectator. Stop looking from the outside in. God's inviting you to experience His life flowing through you. That's the lifestyle of a follower of Jesus.
And He's not calling you to be perfect. He's calling you to be surrendered, to move in His direction, to trust the One who carries you.
Stop being a spectator. Stop looking from the outside in. God's inviting you to experience His life flowing through you. That's the lifestyle of a follower of Jesus.
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