Daily Dose: “Follow Me” — Active Imitation of Christ (Matthew 16:24, KJV)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:24

Christ declares, “If any man will come after me… let him… follow me.”

This call is not emotional admiration, but practical discipleship. Following Christ means active imitation. It is daily surrender, continual growth, and intentional conformity to His character. Ellen G. White repeatedly counsels that true religion is not profession, but transformation, the life of Christ reproduced in the believer.

Following implies movement. It means walking where He walks, choosing what He chooses, and refusing what He refuses. It requires nearness to Christ through prayer, study, and obedience.

Study the Pattern of Christ

Ellen White teaches that the life of Christ is the believer’s textbook. We are to study not only His teachings, but His spirit, His tone, and His manner.

Consider carefully:

• How He responded to insult — with calm dignity and truth

• How He handled power — never exalting Himself, but serving others

• How He treated the weak — with tenderness and restoring grace

• How He prayed — frequently, earnestly, and in complete dependence on the Father

Meditate deeply on:

• John 13 — where Christ kneels in humble service

• Luke 22 — where He submits fully in Gethsemane

• Matthew 5–7 — where He reveals the principles of His kingdom

Ellen White emphasizes that beholding Christ changes the heart. As we contemplate His life, selfishness weakens and Christlike love strengthens.

Align Lifestyle With Kingdom Values

Following Christ requires a reordering of priorities. The world measures success by visibility and accumulation. Heaven measures success by faithfulness and character.

Kingdom alignment means choosing:

• Simplicity over excess — avoiding needless display and indulgence

• Integrity over expediency — refusing compromise for advantage

• Faithfulness over recognition — serving even when unseen

• Eternal priorities over temporal gain — investing in souls, not status

Ellen White counsels that we must not pattern after the world’s customs, but after Christ’s self-denying example. A cross-centered life will often look different from society’s expectations.

Develop Daily Following Habits

True discipleship requires discipline. Ellen White consistently wrote that morning devotion, prayer, and self-examination are essential for spiritual strength.

Practical habits of following include:

• Morning Scripture study (15–30 minutes minimum) to anchor the mind in truth

• Prayer before decisions, inviting divine guidance rather than self-reliance

• Weekly self-examination, asking the Spirit to reveal defects of character

• Faithful fellowship with believers, strengthening unity and accountability

• Active service, since character grows through ministry to others

She reminds us that character is not formed in crisis, but in daily habits. Small acts of obedience shape eternal destiny.

To “Follow Me” is to live a life of continual surrender and steady imitation. It is to let Christ’s humility replace pride, His patience replace irritation, His purity replace compromise. As Ellen White teaches, when the character of C

hrist is perfectly reproduced in His people, He will come to claim them as His own.

Following Christ, then, is not passive belief, it is active transformation until His life is reflected in ours.