Live Like Jesus

Live Like Jesus

Various

June 23, 2024

I’m calling June the How to Live Like Jesus month. The first 2 weeks we used 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a springboard for talking about what it means to take ownership of our faith and ultimately, live like Jesus.

Last week for Father’s Day, it was a call for the men to learn more about what it means to be a BETTER-MAN, so we can help change the world. And more on the men’s ministry next week.

Today, I want to continue the theme of living like Jesus. Again, there’s so much scripture that tells us how to live. The Bible isn’t just a book of theology, it’s a book of how to live in a way which brings honor and glory to God and ultimately changes the world.

God transforms us, which in turn leads to others being changed. It’s not always easy and we have so many definitions about what it means to be a man or woman of God. Ultimately, the question is ----how do we live it out? It’s the ultimate demonstration of who Jesus is in my life.

I can do a lot of things to justify my sin. I can do a lot of things to make myself feel better, especially by making God be what I want God to be, rather than God shaping me into who He’s called me to be. I can go through a never ending laundry list of sins to show this, but let’s look at who we’re supposed to be.

We need to start by looking at Jesus, because He’s the One we’re to imitate. And if we don’t know who we’re imitating . . . . if we don’t know His nature and character, then how do we know what to do. I want to share 2 passages from Paul. The first is from Ephesians 5 - - - -

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5

Has there been someone in your life that you think to yourself, ‘if I could just be like them!’ We have people in our lives who make a huge difference and we strive to live like them.

I remember as a kid of trying to emulate certain athletes, pitching the way they pitched, swinging a bat like they did.

Aren’t you glad I didn’t try to emulate Michael Jordan. I’d be sticking my tongue at you all the time!

The One we are supposed to live like is Jesus. Paul says that over and over. Imitate Jesus. I mean, how do you imitate Jesus? He was and is the Christ. He’s Lord!

He’s the Son of God, and yet, as I thought about it, I’m a son of God too. And so are you - - - - you are a child of God. And we have the power and ability to imitate our Lord and Savior, Jesus. It’s not impossible.

So, Paul gives us the first clue - - - WALK IN LOVE. That’s the start. Walk in love. But man, are there not some people who are kinda, sorta difficult to love?

That’s the difficult part of this. But that was no different for Jesus. Wherever He went people were challenging Him, people trying to trick Him and deceive Him. It was a never ending battle.

And we have the same going on in our lives. There’s a battle going on and we need to focus on Jesus and His love for us and the example He set for us.

So, Paul tells us walk in love . . . HOW?

Remember from Colossians 3, I talked about the fact that Paul told us to put on LOVE, which binds other virtues together in perfect unity. Without love, we’re nothing more than a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.

Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. That’s sacrificial love. It means loving like Jesus loved the person who was the outcast. Loving the person who’s sick, the disabled, the unable and those who are called “the worst of sinners.”

Jesus was willing to die for us. That’s the magnitude and power of His love. The start comes when we see others as Jesus did. No strings attached. More than anything . . . . it’s a love for others which comes from our heart and soul, because we’re seeing the world as Jesus did.

Paul now tells us in Philippians 2 - - - -

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,