When you say it this way, it seems way too obvious: a Christ-follower will follow Christ.
But too many people who call themselves Christians (aka, Christ-followers) do not walk the way Jesus walked, and they seemingly have no desire to do so. Their words, attitude, behavior, actions and decisions are not at all what Jesus did when He was on the earth. And their words, attitude, behavior, actions and decisions are not at all what Jesus would do if He were physically on earth today.
One of Jesus’ closest friends wrote these words just a few decades after Jesus physically walked on the earth:
But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:6)
Now it is true that none of us can follow Jesus perfectly. We are sinners saved by grace. We are all a work-in-progress as God changes us from the inside out.
But what is also true is that the overarching pattern of the life of a Christ-follower is that they will walk just as Jesus walked. And the longer they walk with Him, they more they should walk like Him. Let me suggest a few practical action steps based on the verse above.
1. Make sure you know that you are “in Christ.”
1 John 2:6 says, “This is how we know that we are in Him….” To be “in Him” is to be in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. In other words, make sure that you are saved. If you are unsure of your salvation, CLICK HERE to learn how to be sure.
2. Spend time talking to God in prayer and reading the Bible.
1 John 2:6 says we should “keep His word” and “remain in Him.” His word is the Bible. In order to keep His word, we should read the Bible and put its principles into practice in our life. To “remain in Him” means to stay close to Christ. We do this by acknowledging His presence with us all of the time, thinking about Him and His ways. We talk to Him in prayer, just like we would be talking to a friend. It’s a lifelong conversation with God. (The fact that God hears us when we pray should blow us away!)
3. Show love to people.
1 John 2:6 says those who are in Christ have His love in their hearts, that “the love of God is perfected” in them. When Jesus walked on earth, He showed that love to people — to all people. His love compelled Him to actions of compassion, helping, healing, teaching, listening, forgiving, encouraging, showing grace, righteous living, and much, much more. If you walk just as Jesus walked, you will show love to people.
4. Walk in ways that are pleasing to God.
1 John 2:6 says that we should “walk just as Jesus walked.” We are to be unashamed followers of Jesus Christ, pointing people to faith in Him. We depend on Him to help us live a life of close fellowship with God and others, a life of forgiving people because God has forgiven us so much, and a life of faithfulness to God (see 1 John 1:1-2:6). God desires for us to live a life that is full of light, full of life, full of love (again, see 1 John 1:1-2:6).