How Do I Find Jesus and Follow Him in Everyday Life?

(Editorial note: This post was adapted from a sermon manuscript with the assistance of AI.)

Everyone loses things.

Wallets, keys, and phones often go missing, even when tools exist to help locate them. There are moments when something is right there, in plain sight—and still goes unnoticed. Finding things can be difficult, even when the general location is known.

And in a similar way, the same can be true when it comes to Jesus.

In Luke 24, two disciples walk the road to Emmaus on the very day of the resurrection. They are talking about Jesus—what happened and what it might mean—when Jesus himself comes alongside them and begins walking with them. Yet they do not recognize him.

He is right there—present, speaking, and explaining the Scriptures to them.

And still, they do not see him.

This raises an important question many people are asking: how can someone find Jesus in everyday life?

Finding Jesus

The turning point in the Emmaus story comes in two moments: when Jesus opens the Scriptures and when he breaks bread with them. Looking back, the disciples say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They experienced something before they fully understood it. Jesus was already at work before they could clearly identify him.

This matters because finding Jesus begins with looking in the right places. Scripture, prayer, worship, silence, and love are all places where Jesus makes himself known. These are not abstract ideas—they are practical, everyday ways people encounter him. This directly answers a common question: how can someone grow closer to Jesus?

Yet many people do not regularly engage in these practices. Even among Christians, consistent Bible reading and intentional time with God are not common habits. There is often a desire to hear from God, but a lack of engagement with the very places where he has promised to speak.

Finding Jesus begins with making space to seek him.

Following Jesus

Finding Jesus is only the beginning. In Acts 2, Peter speaks to a crowd about who Jesus is. When they understand, they ask a direct question: what should we do?

Peter’s answer is clear: repent and be baptized.

Following Jesus involves turning. The word “repent” means to change direction. It is like driving down a road and suddenly realizing the bridge ahead is out. Once the truth is known, continuing forward is no longer an option. The only path forward is to turn around.

Following Jesus is not just about belief—it is about reorienting one’s life.

It is choosing a new direction.

This invitation is open to everyone: “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” No one is excluded from the call to follow Jesus.

Being Formed by Jesus

Another important question often goes unasked: how does Jesus actually change a person’s life?

The answer is formation.

In 1 Peter, believers are described as “foreigners” in the world—not because they have left it, but because they now belong to a different kingdom. Life may look the same on the surface, but something deeper begins to change. Values shift, priorities change, and a new way of living begins to take shape.

This transformation is not immediate. It is slow, gradual, and formational.

Like water that slowly leaves its mark over time, or meat that absorbs a marinade the longer it sits.

For those asking how to become more like Jesus, the answer is found in consistency. Time in Scripture, prayer, worship, and obedience shape a person over time. These practices do not produce instant results, but they steadily form a life that reflects his.

Over time, a life takes on the shape of whatever it sits in.

The Crossroads

Life is full of crossroads, not just once but repeatedly. There are moments where direction must be chosen and questions surface: how can Jesus be found, what does it mean to follow him, and how does real change happen?

The answer is simple, but significant:

Find Jesus.

Follow Jesus.

Be formed by Jesus.

One final question remains: What if Jesus is already closer than it seems—and has simply gone unrecognized? Watch the full sermon. Listen to the full sermon.