What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?Sample

Who Are You Following?

Let’s imagine you just got a job offer from a company on the other side of the country. It’s a place you’ve always wanted to work for, but you still hesitate. Why? Because saying yes to the job also means saying no to your current job, a familiar location, and your local friend group. Saying yes, even to the most exciting opportunities, often carries a cost.

Jesus often attracted crowds and followers. In Luke 14, for example, he addressed a crowd and asked them to imagine that they were builders who counted the cost of supplies before beginning construction. Then He invited them to imagine they were kings, creating a strategy for a great battle. Finally, He said that anyone who didn’t count the cost of being His disciple should stop following Him.

What is Jesus talking about? He’s saying that following Him comes with a cost. Wise builders count the cost of materials before building, and kings count their soldiers before battle. In the same way, we’re wise to consider what it might cost us to follow Jesus.

When the first disciples said yes to Jesus, they said no to their old professions, homes, and familiar routines. Do we need to leave our jobs and homes to follow Jesus? The specific calling can look different for each of us, but following Jesus does come with some kind of cost for all of us.

For some, saying yes to Jesus might create tension in close relationships. For others, it might lead to setting relational boundaries. And for many, it means breaking old habits.

Sounds hard, right? That’s okay. God never promised easy lives to people who chose to follow Him. But any pain or discomfort is worth it—why? Because Jesus is the perfect example of what it means to be human. And as we say yes to Jesus’ way of life, we become filled with His life-giving presence and grow in peace, joy, and generosity. On the flip side, as we say no to temptation, greed, and comfort, we begin to turn away from decisions that hurt God and others.

Following Two Leaders

Once, a wealthy man approached Jesus and asked to follow Him. Jesus said he was welcome to join once he sold his possessions and generously gave all he owned to others. The man left sad. Why? Because he wanted to follow Jesus while also pursuing wealth.

Jesus doesn’t call everyone to give away all they have—Zacchaeus gave away half his possessions and other well-off followers supported Jesus’ ministry over time. But Jesus does tell us that we can’t follow two leaders at the same time. The wealthy man who asked to follow Jesus was listening more closely to the call of financial success than to Jesus’ invitation to a spiritually rich life.

Is there a voice in your life that’s louder than Jesus’? Does Jesus’ call to generosity get drowned out by your desire to build your bank account? Does His command to forgive get lost in your lingering grudge? Does His example of living humbly get obscured by your ambition or pride? Or does His invitation to serve get ignored by a pursuit of comfort?

We must choose who to follow. So today, consider what you’re tempted to focus on the most. It could be anything from career success to the idea of having a “perfect” family. No matter what it is, an earthly pursuit can’t lead you to lasting fulfillment on its own. Only Jesus can.

So find ways to keep saying yes to Jesus, and invite Him to show you some things you need to say no to in order to keep moving forward. For more on what it looks like to be fully surrendered to God, read this article.

Pause and Pray

God, please help me to say yes to You and no to the things that are holding me back. I don’t want to live with distractions. Help me to identify the best things I can do to continue making a difference. Please provide me with wisdom and courage as I seek You. In Jesus’ name, amen.