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Loyal
Today, I heard the phrase in my mind, "Love them like Jesus." So, I am gathering a list of ways in which Jesus showed God's love to people. So, if you would like to contribute your thoughts to that list, I would appreciate your input. This will help me to implement this to my life in perhaps greater ways than before.
 
Loyal
My daughter and one of my daughters-in-law gave me their thoughts on this subject:

K: Give grace, think more of others than ourselves, forgiveness, meaningful touches, acts of kindness, listen to them, help them, encouragement, words of correction in love and when necessary. Sacrifice.

J: Listen to know what people's true needs are, care more for people's salvation than for our own reputation, pay attention to children, take care of widows and orphans, feed the hungry.
 
Loyal
Casting Crowns has a song called "Love them Like Jesus".

Strypes - Thank you. So, I have a question. The song presents a picture of those who need the love of Jesus, and then it tells us to love them like Jesus, but I don't see where it really tells us how to love them like Jesus, i.e. what kinds of things we should do to show them Jesus' love. What do you believe the message of the song is regarding how to love them like Jesus? Maybe I am missing something.
 
Member
Strypes - Thank you. So, I have a question. The song presents a picture of those who need the love of Jesus, and then it tells us to love them like Jesus, but I don't see where it really tells us how to love them like Jesus, i.e. what kinds of things we should do to show them Jesus' love. What do you believe the message of the song is regarding how to love them like Jesus? Maybe I am missing something.
The answer in the song is "Stay by their side"..
 
Member
As for how to love like Jesus, that is a very multifaceted question. Jesus said to love God above all and to love each other. When Jesus said to love your neighbor as you love yourself, someone said "who is my neighbor?" and Jesus answered with the Good Samaritan story.

The expression of love can be small acts of service, grand gestures, encouragement etc but in the Casting Crown's song, I believe it is giving of your time to comfort someone who is hurting and just being there for them in their time of need.
 
Member
In the Gospel of John chapter 11. it says that Jesus loved Mary Martha and Lazarus. And Jesus wept. It is my thoughts that Jesus mourned with those who mourn.

So one way we can love like Jesus is to mourn with those who have lost a loved one.
 
Loyal
@Strypes - Thank you so much for all your input. I appreciate you sharing what you did. The Bible tells us over and over again that we are to love one another with god-like love or to love others as Jesus loved us, but I think it is often overlooked exactly HOW (in what ways) Jesus loved people. So, if we are to love others like Jesus loved us, I believe it is important we understand what that looks like. And, I felt it important to ask the question, because I want to have a greater understanding of Jesus' love myself, so that I can love others more and more like he loves me. So, thank you.
 
Member
I think this chapter from Paul's letter to the Hebrews has some challenging suggestions to love like Jesus.


Hebrews 13 English Standard Version (ESV)
Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?


7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.


20 Now may the God of peace
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.
 
Loyal
I think this chapter from Paul's letter to the Hebrews has some challenging suggestions to love like Jesus.


Hebrews 13 English Standard Version (ESV)
Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?


7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.


20 Now may the God of peace
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.

Thank you so much! This is great! I appreciate it. It does give so many good ways in which we can love one another like Jesus loves us.

Whenever I teach this passage of scripture, though, I usually add a word of caution. We must read the chapter in its entirety and interpret each verse in the context of the entire chapter. With that said, just let me say this on the subject of "our leaders." We should only imitate the faith of those whose lives and practice and beliefs line up with the teachings of Jesus and those of his NT apostles, so we must be discerning about this. Also, with regard to obeying our leaders, the same applies. We don't ever obey anything that is contrary to God's Word and the teachings of the NT for the saints, the body of Christ. If we are asked to do something that goes against the teachings of Christ, we don't have to obey it. We should always do what is pleasing in the sight of God, through Jesus Christ. We should desire to act honorably in all things. We are to keep our lives free from the love of money, etc. So, if we are asked to do anything immoral or illegal, the answer is "No." If we are asked to compromise our faith in any way, the answer is "No." Many people get caught up in cults because it is drilled in them that they must obey their leaders, but they are not taught that there are biblical exceptions to such obedience, such as Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, Daniel, Jesus and the apostles. God's laws always trump!
 
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