How to Know If You’re Following Jesus or Just Admiring Him

How Do You Know If You’re Truly Following Jesus?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” — Matthew 16:24

It’s one of the most important questions any believer can ask:

Am I truly following Jesus… or just admiring Him from a distance?

In our world today, it’s easy to associate being a Christian with attending church, being a good person, or checking off spiritual boxes. But Jesus never called anyone to be a fan—He called us to be followers. And following means movement. It means direction. It means discipleship.

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about pursuit. So today, let’s walk through a few biblical self-checks to help us ask: Am I really following Jesus… or just standing near Him?

1. 

Do You Know His Voice—and Listen to It?

Jesus said:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27

To follow Jesus, you must first hear His voice. Not just once in a sermon or in a crisis, but regularly, through Scripture, prayer, worship, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Ask yourself:

• Am I spending time in God’s Word with a heart that listens?
• Do I adjust my life when Scripture challenges me—or do I tune it out?
• When God speaks, do I respond?

Followers of Jesus don’t just hear—they obey. Not because we have to, but because we want to. We trust that His way is better than ours.

2. 

Are You Carrying Your Cross—Daily?

Jesus didn’t sugarcoat the cost of following Him. He said it plainly:

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” — Luke 14:27

The cross was not a metaphor for inconvenience—it was a symbol of death. Following Jesus means dying to self, daily. It means letting go of pride, selfish ambition, bitterness, and comfort. It means putting God’s will above your own.

This doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s saying no to temptation, forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it, or serving quietly when no one is watching.

Ask yourself:

• What am I laying down for the sake of following Jesus?
• Have I gotten too comfortable with a faith that costs me nothing?

Grace is free—but following Jesus will cost you your life. And strangely, that’s where real life is found.

3. 

Are You Becoming More Like Him?

Paul writes:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1

Discipleship is about transformation. We don’t just believe in Jesus—we become like Him.

Are you more patient, loving, truthful, humble, and courageous than you were a year ago?

Do your priorities reflect the heart of Christ?

Do others see Jesus in you—at home, at work, online?

This isn’t about comparison. It’s about growth. The more time you spend with Jesus, the more your life will begin to resemble His.

Ask yourself:

• Am I growing in spiritual maturity?
• Are there areas of my life where I’m resisting God’s transformation?

4. 

Are You Loving Others Like Jesus Would?

Jesus said the defining mark of His followers would be love:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35

Not by how much we know. Not by how right we are. But by how well we love.

This kind of love isn’t always easy. It requires grace, forgiveness, sacrifice, and compassion—especially when it’s not reciprocated.

Ask yourself:

• Am I growing in my love for others, even the difficult ones?
• Do I show grace to the broken, the overlooked, and the marginalized?

Following Jesus means loving as He loved—radically, relentlessly, and without condition.

5. 

Are You Willing to Go Where He Leads?

When Jesus called His first disciples, they left everything to follow Him.

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” — Matthew 4:20

Discipleship means movement. It means we don’t stay where we are—not spiritually, not emotionally, not relationally. Following Jesus will often pull us out of comfort zones and into the unknown.

Ask yourself:

• Is there something God’s calling me to do that I’ve been resisting?
• Am I willing to follow Him into new territory—even if it’s hard?

Sometimes, following Jesus will require leaving behind something familiar—an old habit, a toxic relationship, a dream you’ve clung to. But what you gain in return is far greater: Jesus Himself.

So… Are You Truly Following Him?

This isn’t about guilt—it’s about grace.

This isn’t about performance—it’s about presence.

This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about staying close.

Jesus doesn’t ask us to have it all together before we follow. He simply says, “Come.”

So, friend, wherever you are today—whether you feel on fire for God or tired from the road—take a moment to assess your heart.

Because the question isn’t just, “Do you believe in Jesus?”

It’s: “Are you following Him?”

Let’s Reflect Together:

• What is one step of obedience Jesus is calling you to take this week?
• What area of your life is hardest to surrender to Him?
• How can you encourage someone else to keep following Jesus?

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