So, you believe in Jesus. You come to church, maybe you’ve even read through the Gospels. You know His story and believe in the power of His life, death, and resurrection. But here’s the big question: is that knowledge shaping how you live? Or is it sitting in your head, waiting for a nudge into action?
For many, the call to follow Jesus often starts with belief but, as the years pass, can stall there. The difference between believing in Jesus and actively following Him is the difference between knowledge and transformation. Jesus didn’t call His disciples simply to know about Him but to follow—to walk His path, to learn by doing, to practice His words and ways even when it challenges our comfort and confronts our old habits.
Our congregation has spent years faithfully professing Jesus, but we may have picked up practices and routines that make following Jesus feel safe and predictable rather than radical and transformative. We know the words, but do we let them move from our heads to our hands and hearts? This is where the second essential of faith challenges us.
Following Jesus Means Going Beyond Safe Faith
In Matthew 4:19, when Jesus calls His first disciples, He doesn’t give them a doctrine test or a list of theological terms to memorize. Instead, He simply says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Notice, He doesn’t say, “Understand me,” or “Admire me from a distance.” He’s asking for a commitment to walk alongside Him and learn in real time. This is an active call, and it will take us beyond “safe faith.”
To follow Jesus means becoming disciples who learn, grow, and practice. But it also means giving up the illusion that faith is something only for Sundays. If following Jesus doesn’t start spilling over into how we treat others, how we spend our time, and how we respond to life’s challenges, then we may be simply agreeing with Jesus in theory, not actually following Him.
CTA #1: Step Out of the Comfort Zone
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Take a moment to consider this: what’s one area of your life where faith has stayed in the “safe zone”? This week, challenge yourself to act on Jesus’ words in a way that feels uncomfortable but necessary. It might be offering forgiveness to someone you’ve been holding resentment against, volunteering for a ministry that’s outside your comfort zone, or dedicating intentional time in prayer and Bible study daily. Take a step of faith beyond what feels safe.
The Risk of Knowledge Without Action
In our modern church culture, we tend to think of faith as something you learn and then settle into—a steady ship that never needs rocking. But Jesus never promised us a calm, settled life. In fact, following Him often means getting uncomfortable, as we confront habits, sins, or routines that keep us from true transformation.
Peter learned this firsthand. In 1 Peter 2:21, he reminds us that Christ is our example in both suffering and righteousness. The path is not easy, but it is transformative. Peter’s journey wasn’t marked by knowledge alone but by countless actions in faith, even when he stumbled along the way. Like Peter, we may need to reevaluate what following Jesus means in our own lives—are we willing to risk routine for real change?
CTA #2: Take One Risk in Faith This Week
Ask yourself: “If I were to act as Jesus would in this situation, what would I do?” Then, do it. Take the risk of living your faith in one specific, intentional way. This could be an act of generosity, reaching out to someone in need, or standing up for someone who is vulnerable. It doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic, but it should stretch you beyond the everyday. Following Jesus means taking steps in faith, even when those steps feel risky or uncomfortable.
Following Jesus Means Practicing His Ways Daily
In our congregation, we cherish the Gospel message, yet we may struggle to let that message reshape our daily habits. Jesus’ life was marked by prayer, compassion, humility, and a commitment to God’s mission. He called His followers not only to listen but to practice these same qualities. Following Jesus requires us to do the same—not only to listen to His teachings on Sundays but to live them Monday through Saturday.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to love our enemies, give without expecting return, and seek God’s kingdom first. This isn’t about doing just enough to feel “good” as a Christian. This is about transforming our desires, our priorities, and our habits to align with Jesus. And as we do this, we begin to discover the freedom that comes from true discipleship—a faith not just believed but lived.
CTA #3: Cultivate One New Daily Habit That Reflects Jesus’ Teachings
Choose one habit to add to your daily routine that will help you live out Jesus’ teachings. It could be dedicating the first five minutes of your morning to prayer, reading through the Gospels, or practicing kindness with intentionality in your conversations. Find one small way to live out Jesus’ teachings each day. A single habit, practiced daily, can transform your faith from words into action and help you follow Jesus in every corner of your life.
Letting Faith Shape Our Lives
We have all experienced the tug between knowledge and action. We know what Jesus calls us to do, but it can feel daunting, challenging, even uncomfortable. But imagine a faith that isn’t limited to head knowledge—a faith that flows through every part of your life, creating ripples of change in your home, your community, and beyond.
Following Jesus calls us out of the safe waters of intellectual belief and into the current of active discipleship. Each step, no matter how small, matters. Each decision to act on His words takes us closer to a faith that isn’t just believed but seen and felt in everything we do.
As you consider this second essential of faith, let this challenge sink in: what if following Jesus became not just what you believe, but how you live?
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