6 Ways to Live Like Jesus

     Both were wildly popular and fun to write, so I started thinking about who we should truly aspire to be like.

     If you thought of Jesus, you got it! Here are a few ways we can be more like Him.

     1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. What does loving God mean to you? Right now, I think of loving God as basking in His love for me and then honoring and obeying Him from love and gratitude, not duty.

     2. Love your neighbor as yourself. A measure of our love for God is how well we love His people. Loving others well is a sign of true maturity in your relationship with Christ. My word for 2015 is relationship, and love is the foundation of every healthy relationship. I'm finding that my former enemies can be good friends. I'm looking for people who don't care if I like them but who do care about everyone knowing and loving God.

     3. Be humble. Don't boast. Rather, be gentle and gracious. Don't flaunt yourself or list your achievements. Don't make others feel bad about themselves. Jesus is the best example of this. He truly had so many reasons to boast. He is the King, God, and Creator, but on earth He stayed humble and focused on serving others.

     4. Pray. Prayer should be our steering wheel, not our spare tire. Jesus, even though He was God, talked with His Father often. And He taught us how to pray. (This doesn't mean that those were the only words we would say to God, but it's a model for us to follow.)

     5. Know your Scripture. It is written. It is written. It is written. Jesus knew His Scripture, and He wasn't scared to quote it. Don't quote it at people to point out their sins or to show off--that won't win souls! But quote it out of love for others and respect for God's Holy Word.

     6. Reflect on God's goodness. It was Jesus who taught us communion. The practice of communion is slow and beautiful and gracious. We're thanking Jesus for His body and blood that He poured out for us on the cross.

     I hope you're inspired to live like Jesus, not to impress others, not to "be good," and not to obsess with perfection, but to live closely with Him every day.

~Madeline