What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus?

When we sing worship songs in church, do we truly understand the words coming out of our mouths? This question becomes particularly important when we consider songs with powerful, life-altering lyrics like Chris Tomlin's "I Will Follow You."
The chorus of this song contains some challenging words:

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve, I'll serve
If this life I lose
I will follow you

These aren't casual lyrics. They're a radical commitment to discipleship that challenges our comfortable Christianity.

Why Do We Sing in Church?

Before diving into what it means to follow Jesus, let's consider why we sing in worship at all. While music can be entertaining, entertainment should be at the bottom of our list of reasons for singing in church.
The word "worship" comes from an old English word meaning "worthiness" or "worth-ship" - acknowledging and bestowing value upon someone. We sing for several important reasons:

To adore and praise God - Psalm 63:3 says, "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." Scripture repeatedly calls us to praise God because He is worthy.

To teach the faith - Remember songs like "Jesus Loves Me," "Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man," or "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High"? Putting words to music helps us learn and memorize spiritual truths.

To pray together - Songs like "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" or "Draw Me Close to You" function as communal prayers. The entire Book of Psalms consists essentially of prayers set to music.

To respond to God's Word - Songs of invitation at the end of services help us respond to what we've heard, often calling us to personal or communal action.

What Does Following Jesus Really Look Like?

The title "I Will Follow You" challenges our Western concept of following. As Americans, we generally don't like being followers. We prefer to lead—if not others, then at least ourselves. When we do follow, we want it on our terms, with benefits that match our effort.
But the chorus details a different kind of following: Going Where Jesus Goes.

"Where you go, I'll go. Where you stay, I'll stay. When you move, I'll move."

These simple statements leave no room for conditions or questions. There's no "Why are we going there?" or "Can this wait until tomorrow?" This is exactly how Jesus' disciples lived during His ministry—they went where He went, stayed where He stayed, moved when He moved.

After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit continued this leadership. The apostles followed the Spirit's guidance just as they had followed Jesus physically. When the Spirit said "go," they went. When the Spirit said "stay," they stayed.

Consider Paul, who traveled 10,000-15,000 miles over 14 years—not in comfortable vehicles but on foot, by boat, on horseback, through hostile territories. He went wherever the Spirit led him.

Loving Who Jesus Loves

"Who you love, I'll love."

Who did Jesus love? He loved His enemies. On the cross, He prayed for those who betrayed, tortured, and crucified Him: "Father, forgive them."

Jesus' concept of loving neighbors was radical. In Matthew 5:44-45, He says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

If you want to follow Jesus, are you willing to pray for your enemies? Not praying for their downfall, but praying as Jesus did—for their forgiveness, blessing, and redemption.

Serving How Jesus Serves

"How you serve, I'll serve."

Jesus served the outcasts and the least. He washed His disciples' feet—including those who would betray and desert Him. He served people not based on whether they deserved it, but out of love.

Jesus served sacrificially, ultimately giving His life, knowing His death would bring life to the very ones who killed Him. Are you willing to serve with that kind of humility and self-sacrifice?

Surrendering Everything

"If this life I lose, I will follow you."

This is perhaps the most challenging line. While many of us have never had to contemplate choosing between our faith and our lives, Christians around the world face this reality daily. Even this past week, believers were put to death for their faith.

Paul expressed this attitude in Philippians 3:7-8: "Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."

The Story Behind "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"

The powerful hymn "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" originated from a true story of sacrifice. In northeast India during the 1800s, a man named Nokseng and his family became Christians after hearing the gospel from missionaries.

When they began sharing their faith with their village, the chief demanded they recant. Standing before the villagers, with arrows aimed at his family, Nokseng declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus. I will not turn back." The chief ordered his sons shot. As they lay dying, Nokseng continued, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow."Next, his wife was killed. Finally, before being executed himself, Nokseng proclaimed, "The cross before me, the world behind me. I will not turn back."

Remarkably, the chief who ordered their execution later became a Christian himself, amazed by their unwavering faith. Eventually, the entire village turned to Christ. Years later, missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh turned Nokseng's words into the hymn we know today.

Life Application

Most of us live with a comfortable, compartmentalized Christianity. We squeeze Jesus into our busy lives rather than following Him wholeheartedly. We keep our faith in a Sunday morning box, reluctant to let it interfere with other areas of our lives.

The challenge is to move beyond comfortable Christianity to a faith where we can say with Paul that everything else is rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This week, take one step toward following Jesus more completely—whether that means loving someone difficult, serving sacrificially, or surrendering something you've been holding back from God.