Called to Follow: 15 Bible Verses About Following Jesus
Today, we’ll begin by entering into the story of an unexpected man who was called to follow Jesus. His story is a reminder that Jesus calls people from every walk of life to follow him, even those we would not expect. Then, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about following Jesus in our lives as well.
I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you as you follow Christ.
Bible Verses About Following Jesus
Before we read these Scriptures, let’s enter into God’s Word as we read about the call of an unexpected follower.
The Call to Follow Jesus
A small but sturdy wooden booth rests along the busy road. Enclosed on three sides, it offers the man inside shade from the smoldering afternoon sun.
At his feet are wooden chests filled with money. Weights and measuring devices sit on a shelf to his left. In front of him, a low counter stretches across the booth.
A Roman solider stands nearby offering protection and assuring compliance.
People pass by the booth with a sense of resentment, scorn. Tax collectors are known for overcharging. They have sided with Rome, traitors.
The booth is more than a place where business transactions take place. It symbolizes Roman oppression and corruption.
The Man in the Booth
A man named Matthew sits inside the booth. His reed pen rests beside his ledger, and a small inkpot sits nearby. Dust swirls in the arid afternoon heat, and the scent of unwashed bodies and animal manure wafts past. Perspiration gathers on his forehead.
His fingers are stained with the ink from his meticulous inscriptions.
He doesn’t know it, but everything about his world is about to be thrown ajar. A Teacher has been in town recently. Matthew is captivated by him, drawn to him. He cannot discern this pull, but it is magnetic.
What would it be like to follow the Teacher? He has been considering this outlandish thought for days.
Suddenly, the Teacher emerges from the crowd.
“Follow me, and be my disciple,” the Teacher says.
Paralyzed with astonishment, Matthew wonders, Is he looking at me? Surely not. I’m a tax collector, an outcast among my people.
The Teacher lingers; his eyes locked with Matthew’s. The Teacher’s eyes are warm, inviting, and filled with compassion. Matthew realizes that it is true: The invitation is for him.
Rising from his seat, he emerges from the booth, trading everything he has worked so hard to attain for the honor of following the Teacher.
Would I Leave Everything?
This narrative should stir us all to consider: Would I leave everything to follow Jesus? Would I willingly step into unemployment, knowing I would never return to my career?
This was Matthew’s story. He exchanged his life as a tax collector for a life as Jesus’ follower.
Matthew’s skills for observing details and keeping records were eventually used to write the Gospel of Matthew. Because he understood his Jewish audience, Matthew clarified Jesus’ fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies that he was the Messiah.
Lessons from Matthew
From Matthew’s life, we learn that Jesus chooses people from every walk of life to follow him. Furthermore, when we decide to follow Jesus, he redirects our skills to fulfill his purpose.
Let’s take a moment to consider whether we are following Jesus in every realm of our lives.
Is there a part of your life you’ve been holding back from Jesus? Is there an area of habitual disobedience, complacency, or sin?
What would it look like to surrender every part of your life to Jesus and follow him?
As you reflect on these questions, let’s also take a closer look at 15 Bible verses about following Jesus.
Bible Verses About Following Jesus
1. Matthew 9:9 (ESV)
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
This was Jesus’ call to Matthew. It is his call to us, too.
How have you responded to the call?
2. John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
When Jesus calls, his sheep recognize his voice.
As we continue walking with Jesus as our Shepherd, we continue to learn what his voice sounds like. His words are sincere, full of truth, peace-loving, and sincere. They always align with Scripture and wisdom.
3. Matthew 16:24
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
There is a cost to following Jesus.
We will endure hardships, rejection, and suffering as we lay down our rights and surrender to him. Meanwhile, he promises peace and joy. We can find this peace and joy nowhere else.
The calling is worth the cost.
4. Matthew 19:21
If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
Jesus spoke these words to a rich young man who claimed he had followed the Law perfectly.
While no one is capable of this kind of perfection, the man’s pride was visible to Jesus. Jesus challenged the man to walk away from his wealth and become a follower.
The young man walked away dejected because he was unwilling to leave his lavish lifestyle.
This is not an admonition to sell all we own and become traveling missionaries; rather, Jesus calls us to set aside anything that keeps us from following him with our whole hearts.
What is he calling you to lay aside? What is hindering you?
5. John 12:26
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
We follow Jesus by serving him.
We cannot be followers of Christ without loving and serving others.
In what way is Jesus calling you to pour your life out for someone else today?
More Bible Verses About Following Jesus
6. Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
This is a difficult warning.
We will be hated for following Jesus.
We cannot chase the praise of people while following Jesus with our whole hearts.
7. Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
When we decide to follow Jesus, our old, sinful nature is nailed to the cross.
We live for Jesus, not for ourselves.
8. John 12:25
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Jesus often spoke in hyperbole, figurative language with extreme examples to illustrate his message.
Jesus was not saying we must hate everything in our lives. He was expressing that compared to our commitment to him, our commitment to other things of this world should look like love versus hatred.
9. John 15:12
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
We follow Jesus by loving others.
10. Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
We can trust that when we follow Jesus, his plans for us are good and full of hope.
11. John 8:12
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
When we follow Jesus, his light dwells within us, illuminating the paths in front of us.
12. Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We are to seek God and his kingdom, bringing his reign and rule to earth.
When we seek him first, he provides all we need to follow him.
13. 1 Corinthians 1:11
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
We are to imitate Christ.
We learn to imitate him by studying his actions in his Word.
14. Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Again, we learn to walk in God’s will by renewing our minds.
God’s primary tool for renewing our minds is his written Word. This is why daily spending time in God’s Word is so important for following Jesus.
15. Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
We do not need to fear as we walk with Jesus. He is with us, upholding us and guiding us.
Let’s now take a final moment to apply these Bible verses about following Jesus to our lives.
Apply These Bible Verses About Following Jesus
Talk to God. Is he calling you to follow him or obey him in some way today?
How will you respond?
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If this post blessed you, I invite you to explore my library of devotionals and free eBooks. Be blessed as you follow Jesus!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
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Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
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