What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Whether intentionally or not, too many Christians exercise gross hypocrisy by using a different definition for the word “follow” when it applies to following Jesus than they would in other aspects of their lives. For instance, no one would think they could follow another car to an intended destination by taking different turns than they do, yet many Christians pretend they can follow Jesus while picking and choosing when to live as he would in their place.3 How silly it is to think you will go to the same place he is by traveling a different path than he did!4
To follow Jesus is to walk on the way of life. The Lord said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) As you walk with God, you will abound in all the blessings he enjoys.5 To walk with God requires you to walk as God would, as far as you understand him to be.
To walk with God is to live in complete reconciliation to one’s understanding of the character of Jesus. Anyone who does anything else does not know or believe Jesus, and the truth is not in them.6
To follow Jesus means to live as you sincerely believe he would, at all times and in all places.7 It means to conform to whatever he reveals to you about himself,8 to follow every instruction he provides to guide you,434 and to prioritize him435 and his purpose above all else.436 To follow Jesus means to learn and live his character. It is to do, think, and feel what he would in your place for the same reasons.
Footnotes
- 1. And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up. (D&C 10:52) ↩
- 2. And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received. (D&C 88:32) ↩
- 3. And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? (2 Nephi 31:10) ↩
- 4. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:4-6) ↩
- 5. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8) ↩
- 6. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him...He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:3-4, 6) ↩
- 7. ...to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— (Mosiah 18:9) ↩
- 8. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) ↩