Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18 NLT
“Loving like Jesus” is trendy. It is NOT easy. Loving like Jesus includes deliberate self-sacrificial enemy-focused love. A consistent follower of Jesus grows in His character and is defined by that type of love. It is never enough to speak love or “feel” love. It demands action. The story Jesus told shows us that loving like Jesus means extending grace to those outside our familiar circles, especially the marginalized or those we might consider enemies. Loving like Jesus is inconvenient and costly The priest and Levite had valid excuses – the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was notoriously dangerous, and touching a dead or bleeding man could make them ritually unclean. But the Samaritan put every other priority on hold to step into the messiness of another human's tragedy.
What we call love is not enough. John, who repeatedly experienced how Jesus loved him and others personally, said this kind of love demands action. Jesus’ parable demonstrates that identifying as a religious, even loving person is insufficient. The man whose question initiated this story was an expert in the law. He knew the right answers about loving his neighbor, but Jesus wanted him to realize that real love is rooted in tangible, self-sacrificial mercy.
Jesus showed us how to love by what He did for us. We were like the victim in the story, beaten up by sin and unable to save ourselves. Jesus did not just pass us by, simply pray for us, or offer words of encouragement from a comfortable distance. He willingly stepped into our broken mess, took responsibility for our healing, the cost of our recovery, and paid our debt in full. Experiencing that kind of unconditional, unrestricted love transforms our hearts, equipping and empowering us to "go and do likewise.”
Breaking down barriers to love like Jesus starts with shifting our mindset from our own comfort to the other person's humanity. When fear, resentment, or differences make it hard to show love, Jesus' example gives us a practical roadmap to overcome those hurdles. Start by recognizing they are made in God’s image, just as you are. Notice the labels you place on others and your quick under-informed judgments. Focus on understanding them, not defending, or excusing yourself. Don’t wait on your emotions to take the first small step. Ask God to help you see them with Jesus’ eyes and love with His wisdom and grace. Remind yourself of how much God loves and rescues you daily. Stay committed when it seems thankless. That is loving like Jesus.
- Who in your life has been beaten up by life and is in a ditch? How can you love like Jesus?