What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?Sýnishorn

Loving As Jesus Loved

Jesus came to show us what God is like. And because God is love, everything Jesus did was fueled by love.

The Apostle Paul—one of the most prolific writers in the Bible—had formerly hated and murderously persecuted Jesus’ followers. But on one of his trips to silence Christians, Paul had an otherworldly encounter with the Spirit of Christ, and his life was completely changed. He went on to write a large portion of the New Testament as letters to strengthen early Christian churches.

In one of his letters to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote a chapter about love. 1 Corinthians 13 is often read aloud at weddings today for its beautiful depiction of love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” Do you recognize these words? The entire chapter is worth meditating on often. It’s evidence of the way Jesus can transform a person. In the end, Paul ranks some of the most important elements of following Jesus:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Paul knew love was the greatest because of Jesus’ teachings, but also because of the love he himself experienced from Jesus and His followers. Paul had been responsible for heinous acts against Christians. Yet instead of returning the treatment, Jesus’ followers accepted Paul, cared for him, and chose to learn from him.

Love looks different in every situation, but it always involves sacrificial care. Love costs us our time, energy, and resources. But it’s worth the challenge.

Here are a few ways we can love like Jesus:

• Love all your neighbors as yourself, realizing that even your enemy is your neighbor.
• Pursue peace and justice across divisive social barriers.
• Share what you have with people who need it, whether it’s time, a listening ear, financial help, a ride to work, tools, or something else. Share without expecting anything in return.
• Keep forgiving others.
• Learn to be patient and kind with your friends, family, coworkers, and strangers.
• Treat everyone as a person made in God’s image—worthy of honor, fair treatment, and respect.
• Do not take advantage of anyone emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, or in any way, for any reason.

Jesus is God, and God is love. So if we want to follow Jesus and call ourselves Christians, we ought to be full of love for all people, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds. Being a Christian isn’t about being right—it’s about being loving. Love provides evidence of God’s power to a watching world that’s hungry for the hope God provides.

Following Jesus is simple. Not easy, but simple to understand. Following Jesus is simply saying yes to daily opportunities to love God and love others. It’s humbly surrendering your life to Jesus and allowing Him to lead you toward a healthy, whole-life relationship with God. Along the way, you’ll see God at work in your life and in the lives of the people around you.

Following Jesus is a journey that takes a lifetime, so as we conclude this Bible Plan, continue seeking resources to help you get to know Him better every day. For more on how to get to know Jesus, check out this Finds article.

Pause and Pray

My loving God, help me to say yes to Your love every day. When it’s hard, remind me of Your purpose for my life. And as I seek You, please remind me of Your presence. I want to be led by love in every part of my life, from my attitude to my actions. So help me to surrender my whole life to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.