5 Simple Ways to Love Like Jesus
by Chyna Coleman
Do you ever feel like you’re struggling to love like Jesus? Have you ever tried your best to love like Him but still fall short? Honestly, that’s me, too.
Recently, I had the opportunity to serve with a group of women at our church’s annual men’s camp over a 3-day weekend. It was such a great experience serving the men, but for some reason, my love for those I was serving with became a struggle.
Even though we were all Christians, I experienced challenges (common to this world) that come with spending a lot of time with other women who have different personalities, viewpoints, and lifestyles. However, the Holy Spirit reminded me mid-weekend that as believers, we are called to show up differently for one another when it comes to love, carrying the same attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:5).
So why was I struggling to love my fellow sisters in Christ the way Jesus loves them?
For the first time in a long time, my love was tested. It was definitely a wake-up call on how I have been operating when it comes to loving others. Exposing me, not as the Bible lays out plainly, but of my own selfish desires and mood, making love transactional, rather than loving with honesty, transparency, consideration, and kindness the way Jesus did.
Which led me to the question again, Why is it challenging to die to our own feelings/desires and meet the overall needs of others? Loving includes dying to those unproductive emotions and one’s own interest and exchanging it with action through service, vulnerability, quality time, and support.
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16 (NLT)
So let’s go to the Word, our source and our answer, to help us love more like Jesus. I pray as you read, you will begin to walk confidently in the love God has called you to when it comes to others.
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)
What Does Loving Like Jesus Look Like?
Jesus demonstrated love in unique ways throughout the Bible, and we know that if Jesus did it, then we are capable of it, too. Loving like Jesus is multi-faceted, unique, and intentional, and there is no other person who would be a perfect example for us.
Jesus loved specific to a person’s needs and what was required for them to fully understand the love and freedom His Father desired for them. The same should be true for the way we love as well.
In the Bible, there is the popular stanza of verse documenting what love is and what it is not. You can find this in 1 Corinthians 13. It states:
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 12-13 NLT
In the next section, you will learn about some examples of how Jesus loved, walking out 1 Corinthians 13 and how you can glean what loving like Jesus looks like:
Jesus loved the woman at the well- Jesus did not let differences hold Him back from sharing truth and loving the woman at the well in the way she needed to be loved. Jesus met the woman where she was and encouraged her to move forward in who she was always created to be. He loved her to life through the symbolism of thirst and water and the correction of what she was depending on in John 4.
Jesus loved His 12 disciples– Jesus loved 12 different individuals in completely different ways, managing friends with such confidence, wisdom, and grace (John 15:12-15). Jesus’ love moved each disciple into their full potential, including Judas, who would ultimately betray Him. Jesus loved them through their pain, their victories, and their ignorance.
Jesus loved the Isrealites– Jesus loved the Isrealites with patience and forgiveness, which was a great strength only God could have provided (Exodus 34:6-7). We are a lot like the Israelites, thinking we know everything and postponing our promises through disobedience and rebellion when it comes to loving Jesus through submission.
Jesus loved His Father– Jesus loved God the Father through obedience. He said what the Father said, and did what He did (John 5:19). He spent time with God often, through quality time in prayer, showing love and devotion to the Father.
Jesus loved on so many people throughout the Bible in different ways depending on their relationship or acquaintance. Jesus did what was necessary to love us all, but respect, understanding, and truth were always present. These things should not be absent if we are to love more like Jesus.
Even when Jesus was loving everyone else, he required it back. He requested that love be shown through obedience and service to what He loves. In this encounter with Peter, Jesus showed what He required of someone who loved Him.
“Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said.”
John 21:16 (NLT)
{Related – “28 Bible Verses to Help You Understand Love“}
How to Love Like Jesus
The previous sections opened our eyes to how Jesus loved in action. However, if you want to fully understand what love is, I would learn about it through studying the Word. Definitely at least read 1 Corinthians 13 to understand the scope of what loving like Jesus is all about.
Here are five practical ways to love like Jesus:
- Be honest with others. Give encouragement but also give hard truths. The truth is sometimes hard to hear, but it could save the other person a lot of heartache and pain. “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).”
- Be respectful of others. Treat them and see them how God does. Decide to see the value in them instead of devaluing them to the point that their life does not matter. “Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve (Philippians 2:29 NLT).”
- Be forgiving of challenges that arise with others. Anytime a relationship is happening there is bound to be uncomfortable conversations, offense, and disagreements. Do not allow friction to keep you from being a light in someone else’s life. “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Colossians 3:13 NLT).”
- Look to meet the needs of others. One of the major ways Jesus loved was by meeting the need by becoming a savior for the fallen and stubborn. He met the need of 5,000 with food and provision. I am not asking you to get on a cross or perform miracles, but be observant or attentive enough to show up where someone may need your help or support. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:3-4 NLT).”
- Pursue peace with others. The quarreling and the fighting does not mix with peace and love. Anytime Jesus loved someone, it brought peace to their life, His life, and the environment they were in. Jesus didn’t allow His love to distract, mislead, or manipulate anyone; only providing love that conquers all. Pursuing harmony and building each other up always has love at the forefront. “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it (1 Peter 3:11 NLT).”
Loving Others Like Jesus
Loving like Jesus requires more than a shared interest or a you scratch my back/I’ll scratch your back attitude. Loving like Jesus expects obedience, truth, kindness, and intentionality.
As I learned over the weekend of service, loving like Jesus will not always feel like the best choice or the popular choice. It definitely won’t always be the easy choice. However, loving in this way will be most rewarding and provide the growth and peace to help us mature as believers.
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:4 (NLT)
Love is not only serving those you are assigned to, but serving those you are working alongside and your family/friends who allow you to be all that God has called you to be.
I pray that whatever it is that is keeping you or has kept you from loving like Jesus be the very thing that you lay on the altar today. I pray that those stumbling blocks to loving others the way we were called to love them reflect the attitude of Christ and that we never lose focus on the needs of others.
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)
{Related – “Following Jesus – Be Worthy of Being His“}
Chyna Coleman is a Christian blogger and speaker for the everyday single mom. Her passion is to help women grow closer to God while uncovering their confidence and learning to thrive in relationships as their most authentic selves.
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