Living Like Jesus

Following Jesus Christ isn’t just about what we believe; it’s about how we live. Jesus didn’t just teach people about God—He showed them how to love, serve, and pray in a way that transforms lives. And the most incredible part? He invites us to do the same today.

But where do you start?

The Greatest Commandment

The Bible is a giant book with countless rules, laws, guidance, and cautionary tales for ancient peoples—some of which still apply to us today. That’s one reason many people have a hard time getting started reading God’s Word. But thankfully, Jesus gives us a way of making sense of the Bible in a way that directly leads us closer to Him.

In a memorable encounter, a man asks Jesus to name the greatest commandment in Scripture. Jesus gives not one but two commandments: to love God and to love others. He goes on to say that all of God’s laws can be summarized with these two great commands.

So, if any of this feels overwhelming or hard to understand, remember what Jesus said: Honoring God and following Jesus is rooted in loving God and loving people.

With that powerful truth in mind, let’s explore three key ways to begin living like Him: praying, serving, and loving like Jesus.

Praying Like Jesus Prays

Jesus modeled regular conversation with God, the Father. Jesus prayed in public, with His close friends, for the sick, and in private. He never made a spectacle of prayer and warned against praying with fancy words to gain attention from others.

Jesus didn’t leave us guessing how to pray. He said, “This, then, is how you should pray” and then proceeded to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Whether you’re new to praying or you have a strong life of prayer, we’d recommend making a practice of praying the Lord’s Prayer daily.

“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

Here’s a full guide to learning more about how to pray like Jesus with The Lord’s Prayer.

Serving Like Jesus Serves

Jesus made it clear: He came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). He washed His disciples’ feet, fed hungry crowds, cared for the sick and the poor, and ultimately gave His life for all.

Just in case His followers didn’t pick up what He was putting down, Jesus plainly let us know that He was asking us to follow His lead as servants.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:15-17 NIV

Earlier in Matthew, Jesus also said:

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.” Matthew 7:12 MSG

Here are five ideas for serving others like Jesus:

Serve in your neighborhood and community.
Serve people who are incarcerated.
Serve in a local church and find new friends.
Serve your family and friends by learning what causes them to feel cared for. Then take the initiative and do it for them!
Serve a group of friends by leading a small group (at Life.Church, we call these LifeGroups).

Loving Like Jesus Loves

Jesus came to show us what God is like and that God is love (1 John 4:7-21).

Paul, one of the most influential early Christians, once persecuted Jesus’ followers until he encountered the love of Christ. Love transformed him, and he went on to write much of the New Testament.

One of Paul’s letters included a chapter all about the kind of love that changed him. 1 Corinthians 13 is often recited at weddings because of Paul’s wonderful depiction of love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Do you recognize these words? We recommend meditating on the entire chapter often. This chapter alone is evidence of the way Jesus Christ can transform a person. At the end of the chapter, Paul names three of the most important elements of following Jesus.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Paul understood love not just from Jesus’ teachings, but because Jesus’ followers showed him grace and forgiveness. Instead of returning the treatment, Jesus' followers accepted Paul’s repentance, helped him recover from his old ways, and chose to learn from him. That same kind of love can transform us today.

Here are a few practical ways we can love like Jesus:

Love all your neighbors as yourself, and realize that even your enemy is your neighbor.
Pursue peace and justice across racial, political, gender, economic, and divisive social barriers.
Love humbly without being a pushover.
Share what you have with people who need it. Whether it’s time, a listening ear, financial help, a ride to work, tools, or something else. Share without expecting anything in return.
Forgive others regularly.
Learn to be patient and kind with your friends, family, coworkers, and strangers.
Treat everyone as a person, made in the image of God, worthy of honor, fair treatment, and respect. Do not take advantage of anyone emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, or in any other way, for any reason. If you’re in a relationship where you are being mistreated or mistreating others, seek help.

If you want to live more like Jesus, continue practicing what He practiced by praying like Him, serving like Him, and loving like Him.

Living like Jesus shapes us from the inside out. The more we follow Him, the more we begin to reflect His heart and character.

Becoming Like Jesus

Following Jesus isn’t just about learning His teachings or copying His actions—it’s about being transformed by Him. The more we trust Him, walk in His ways, and rely on the Holy Spirit, the more we begin to reflect His love, wisdom, and grace.

Think about it: We tend to become like the people we spend time with. If you follow someone closely, you’ll go where they go, experience what they experience, and start to take on their mindset and habits. The same is true when we follow Christ.

What Does It Mean to Become Like Jesus?

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How to Start Following Jesus