They’ll Know You By How You Show Up

Purpose isn’t just about what you do. It’s about how you show up in the world, especially in how you love.

In a culture that tells you to brand yourself, market yourself, and build yourself up, it’s easy to forget that we’re not just here to be known. We’re here to make Christ known.

And according to the Word, the way people will recognize that you belong to Him has nothing to do with how much you accomplish. It has everything to do with how you love.

Jesus didn’t tell His disciples they’d be known by their influence, followers, or results. He said:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV)

So if you’re called to build, lead, speak, coach, or serve. This is your reminder: You don’t have to shrink, but you do have to show up in love. Your presence is part of your purpose, and how you show up matters.

5 Ways to Show Up Like a True Follower of Christ

Here are five biblical ways to show up in purpose, not just with passion or performance, but with the heart of Christ.

1. Show Up With Love

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV)

Real love is action, not aesthetic. Love shows up in how you listen. How you lead. How you handle conflict. How you serve.

You don’t have to be passive to be loving, and you don’t have to be loud to be impactful. Just let love lead and people will know you’re walking with God.

Coaching Tip: Ask yourself, “Am I leading from love or from fear of being overlooked or rejected?”

2. Show Up With Purpose and Compassion

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart... and love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV)

Loving God and loving people go hand-in-hand. You can’t say you’re walking in purpose if you’re constantly dismissing people in the process.

That doesn’t mean you have to let everyone have access to you. But it does mean you don’t get to abandon compassion in the name of “calling.”

Coaching Tip: Pause and evaluate: Are the people closest to me experiencing the fruit of my purpose or just the pressure?

3. Show Up With Integrity

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

You don’t shine for applause. You shine so God gets glory.

That means showing up with integrity even when no one’s watching. Being honest when it’s inconvenient. Keeping your word. Serving well. Staying accountable.

Coaching Tip: Ask yourself, “Is my purpose shining light on Christ or just on me?”

4. Show Up With Humility and Grace

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Humility is not weakness. It’s strength under submission. It doesn’t mean you don’t know your worth. It means you don’t have to prove it all the time.

Jesus didn’t lead from ego. He led from identity and He covered people in grace, even when correcting them.

Coaching Tip: Ask God to help you lead with both boldness and gentleness. That’s the leadership Jesus modeled.

5. Show Up With a Different Spirit

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

You’re not supposed to show up like everyone else. You’re not supposed to water down truth or angrily mimic what’s trending. You’re set apart for a reason.

Your purpose has power when it’s fueled by renewed thinking. Not hustle. Not ego. Not loudness. Not fear. Faith.

Coaching Tip: Are you blending in to avoid standing out? You weren’t meant to match the room. You were meant to shift it with His love.

Final Word

You can show up confidently and still carry the heart of Christ. You can lead with vision and still move with compassion. You can be purpose-driven and people-minded without shrinking, hiding, or softening your call.

The world doesn’t just need to see what you do. They need to feel the love of who you reflect.

So let love lead. Let purpose shine. And let every room you walk into be marked by the presence of someone who walks with God.

Because at the end of the day? They’ll know you by how you show up.