Living Like Jesus in a World That Doesn’t Understand

Introduction: The Radical Call

The ultimate goal of the Christian faith is not just to be forgiven, but to be transformed. The Bible makes this clear: we are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). This is what it means to be a disciple—an apprentice of Jesus, learning to live as He lived. But what does that actually look like in practice? How do we live like a first-century Galilean carpenter in a twenty-first-century digital world?

Living like Jesus is a radical call because His values are often the complete opposite of the world's values. The world says to seek power; Jesus says to serve. The world says to promote yourself; Jesus says to be humble. The world says to love your friends and hate your enemies; Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for them. To follow Christ is to choose a different path, to walk by a different set of directions. It's a journey that will often lead to being misunderstood by the world, but it is the only path that leads to true life, joy, and fulfillment. This article will explore four key aspects of Jesus' character that we are called to imitate, providing a practical framework for what it means to truly "walk in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

1. Imitating His Humility: The Way Down is the Way Up

Our culture worships at the altar of self-promotion. We are taught to build our personal brand, highlight our achievements, and project an image of success. Jesus' life was a masterclass in the opposite spirit: humility.

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:6-8

The eternal Son of God willingly emptied Himself of His divine privileges to become a servant. The creator of the universe knelt to wash his disciples' dirty feet. This is the radical, upside-down nature of the Kingdom of God. Greatness is not found in being served, but in serving.

How to Cultivate Humility:

• Serve in Secret: Find ways to serve others without any hope of recognition or praise. Do the thankless tasks. Let your right hand not know what your left hand is doing.
• Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak: Value the opinions and perspectives of others. Assume you don't have all the answers and can learn from anyone.
• Celebrate Others: Genuinely rejoice in the successes of others without envy. Promote them above yourself.
• Confess Your Sins Quickly: A humble person is aware of their own faults and is quick to admit when they are wrong and ask for forgiveness.

2. Imitating His Love: A New Commandment

Jesus' defining characteristic was love. Not a sentimental, fleeting emotion, but a rugged, sacrificial, and unconditional love (*agape*). This love was the motivation for his entire life and ministry. He gave a new commandment that would be the defining mark of his followers:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35

How to Practice Christ-like Love:

• Love the Outsider: Jesus was famous for eating with tax collectors and sinners. He intentionally sought out those whom society had rejected. Look for the marginalized, the lonely, and the forgotten in your community and extend friendship and dignity to them.
• Love Your Enemies: This is perhaps the most radical teaching of Jesus. "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). This supernatural love is a powerful witness to the transformative power of the Gospel. It means choosing to desire their ultimate good and forgiveness, even when they have wronged you.
• Love Sacrificially: Christ's love was demonstrated by his sacrifice. We love like him when we are willing to give up our time, our resources, and our comfort for the good of others.

3. Imitating His Compassion: Entering into the Pain of Others

When Jesus saw the crowds, the Bible says he "had compassion on them" (Matthew 9:36). Compassion is not pity from a distance; it is the ability to feel with someone, to enter into their suffering. Jesus was moved by the pain he saw around him, and that compassion always led to action. He healed the sick, comforted the grieving, and fed the hungry.

How to Grow in Compassion:

• Listen to People's Stories: Spend time with people who are different from you. Listen to their experiences and struggles without rushing to offer solutions. Empathy begins with understanding.
• Pray for a Broken Heart: Ask God to break your heart for the things that break His—for injustice, for poverty, for loneliness. Ask Him to help you see people through His eyes.
• Act on the Nudge: When you feel a stirring of compassion for someone, act on it. Make a meal for a grieving family, visit someone who is sick, or offer a listening ear to a friend who is struggling. Small acts of compassion can have a huge impact.

4. Imitating His Dependence on the Father: The Life of Prayer

Though Jesus was fully God, as a man he lived a life of complete dependence on God the Father. The Gospels frequently show Jesus withdrawing to lonely places to pray, often early in the morning or late at night. His power, his wisdom, and his direction all flowed from this intimate communion with his Father. He did nothing on his own initiative but only what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19).

How to Cultivate Dependence:

• Prioritize Prayer: If Jesus, the perfect Son of God, needed to pray, how much more do we? Make daily, focused prayer a non-negotiable part of your life. It is the lifeline of your relationship with God.
• Abide in the Word: Jesus knew the Scriptures intimately and used them to fight temptation and to understand His own mission. A daily intake of God's Word aligns our minds with God's will and truth.
• Seek God's Will Before Acting: Before making major decisions, learn to pause and seek God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, and the counsel of other wise believers.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Transformation

Living like Jesus is not about perfectly following a checklist of behaviors. It is the lifelong process of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to re-shape our character, our desires, and our priorities to match those of Christ. It is a journey that will be marked by both success and failure. But as we continue to fix our eyes on Jesus, the "pioneer and perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:2), we will find ourselves slowly but surely being changed.

The world may not understand a life of humility, sacrificial love, and radical dependence on God. But it is this very counter-cultural life that shines as a bright light in a dark world, pointing people to the profound beauty and hope found in our Savior, Jesus Christ.