Am I really following Jesus?
The question all Christians need to regularly ask themselves is, "Am I really following Jesus?" There is a difference between saying you’re a Christian and actually following Christ. There is a difference between reading about Jesus, talking about Jesus, attending church services, listening to spiritual podcasts, and actually following Christ.
What's the difference, you ask?
Good question.
The difference, again, is actually following Jesus. And it includes three things.
1. Being a Student
The best way to understand the difference between saying you’re a Christian and really following Jesus is by understanding the word disciple. It literally means student or learner. But the image that should come to mind is less of a student sitting in a classroom receiving information so they can pass a test, and more like an apprentice. An apprentice works alongside a master craftsman in a trade, whether carpentry, masonry, or electricity. Another image that captures the idea of a disciple is a medical resident working alongside a seasoned surgeon.
An apprentice or resident's goal is to receive on-the-job training to do the actual things the master craftsman or doctor is doing, not to simply learn about them in theory. Therefore, discipleship to Jesus is about working alongside Him to do the things that He did.
2. Listening and Responding
A second difference in actually following Jesus is growing more and more attentive to His real-time leading in your life through the Spirit. The New Testament assumption is that the Spirit is dwelling within you and regularly speaking to you. In John 10, Jesus uses the metaphor of a sheep learning to hear, recognize, and follow the shepherd's voice. We should expect Jesus to give us Spirit-led instruction on how to order our lives, love our neighbors, and live out His mission in the world. The basic rhythm of following Jesus is learning to listen to His voice and responding in obedience.
3. Embracing Kingdom Priorities and Values.
When you read the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), it becomes pretty clear that Jesus has a very different way of viewing the world than we do. He operates with a different set of values that enable Him (and us) to embrace suffering rather than resist it, love those who are difficult to love, be generous with all that we have, and live a simple and modest life. If we are truly following Jesus, our lives should start to reflect His priorities and values.
So the question for us is, are we actually following Jesus or just saying we are?