All of us want to love like Jesus. We want to be generous, forgiving, and compassionate enough to love people unconditionally. But no matter how hard we try, somehow we fall short. Our humanness gets in the way. Learn the secret to loving like Jesus by abiding in him.

To love like Jesus, we need to understand a simple truth. We cannot live the Christian life on our own.

Sooner or later, in the midst of our frustration, we come to the conclusion that we’re doing something wrong. It’s not working. Our best efforts just don’t cut it.

Discovering Why We Can’t Love Like Jesus

All of us want to love like Jesus. We want to be generous, forgiving, and compassionate enough to love people unconditionally. But no matter how hard we try, it just doesn’t work. Our humanness gets in the way.

Jesus was human too, but he was also God incarnate. He was able to see the people he created in a way that we can’t. He personified love. In fact, the Apostle John said, “God is love…” (1 John 4:16, ESV)

You and I are not love. We can love, but we can’t do it perfectly. We see others’ faults and stubbornness. When we remember the slights they have done to us, a small part of us can’t forgive. We refuse to make ourselves as vulnerable as Jesus did because we know we’ll get hurt again. We love and at the same time we hold back.

Yet Jesus tells us to love as he did: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34, ESV)

How do we do something we’re incapable of doing? We turn to Scripture for the answer and it’s there we learn the secret of how to love like Jesus.

Love Like Jesus Through Abiding

We don’t get very far before we learn the Christian life is impossible. Jesus gave us the key, however: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27, ESV)

He explained this truth in depth in the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John, with his parable of the vine and branches. The New International Version uses the word “remain”, but I like the English Standard Version translation using “abide”:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:1-10, ESV)

Did you catch that in verse 5? “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We can’t love like Jesus on our own. In fact, we can’t do anything in the Christian life on our own.

The missionary James Hudson Taylor called it “the exchanged life.” We surrender our life to Jesus to the extent that when we abide in Christ, he loves others through us. We can endure rejection because Jesus is the vine that sustains us. His love heals our hurts and supplies the strength we need to keep going.

Love Like Jesus by Trusting

Surrendering and abiding are things we can do only through the power of the Holy Spirit. He dwells in baptized believers, guiding us to the right decision and giving us the grace to trust God.

When we see a selfless Christian saint who can love like Jesus, we can be sure that person is abiding in Christ and he in her. What would be too hard on our own, we can do through this act of abiding. We continue to abide by reading the Bible, praying, and attending church with other believers. In this way our trust in God is built up.

Like branches on a vine, our Christian life is a growth process. We mature more every day. As we abide in Jesus, we learn to know him better and trust him more. Cautiously, we reach out to others. We love them. The greater our trust in Christ, the greater our compassion will be.

This is a lifelong challenge. When we are rebuffed, we have the choice to draw back or give our hurt to Christ and try again. Abiding is what matters. When we live that truth, we can begin to love like Jesus.

Starting a relationship with Jesus is a bit like beginning any other new relationship – once we have asked Jesus to be part of our lives, we need to spend time getting to know him and learning about him. Joining his family, the church, will help. Try visiting your local church, or contact Tribes Of Judah – you will be welcomed to your new life and your new family with open arms. We will encourage and help in building a relationship with Jesus Christ and find a church you can call home.

We are passionate about people.
People come first and we strive to meet their needs in all that we do.

The pursuit of God represents the way of life we hunger after as a ministry, a way of life in which God’s guidelines for wise living, as documented in the Bible, form the basis of everything we do.

Our goal is to emulate Christ, so that we can also be a gift to a world in need.

We invite you to join the race.

Just as a tool cannot decide its function, a created being cannot determine the reason for its existence.

We believe in the importance of each individual and encourage an environment in which anyone can be set on the path to discover the role they were designed to fill.

Come and discover who you are.

Each person is designed to do something a lot better than most, and the strength of the body lies in the strength of its individual parts.
It is in the maximization of these innate talents and skills that mankind can have a positive and lasting impact the world.

Help us develop the best you.

We are committed to practical Christianity, where our pursuit, purpose and potential are used to enhance the lives of others.

Our mission is share the joy song, dance, and worship, locally or in the international community, we desire to play our part in easing burdens on those less fortunate than ourselves.

You too can lend a hand. click here…

The Christian journey begins with the acceptance that we have sinned and are incapable of attaining righteousness on our own: “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 NIV.

We must then place our trust in Jesus Christ by repenting of our sins and asking him to forgive us and cleanse us of our unrighteousness: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.

How to give your life to Christ:

1. Admit you are a sinner in need of forgiveness

2. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave

3. Through prayer, confess that Jesus is the only way to God and commit to live for him for the rest of your life.

The bible says: “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Not ready to receive Jesus Christ? Ask your questions by clicking here

I am ready to receive Jesus Christ – What to Pray

Dear Lord Jesus,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life eternal. I know you are the only way to God. So now I want to put aside my disobedient ways and start living for you. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. Please forgive me, change my life, and show me how to know you better. In your name I pray. Amen

Now just let us know about your life-changing decision, We’ll send you information about the free resources you can yes to grow closer to God.

REQUEST @ TRIBES OF JUDAH.com

WHO IS JESUS?

While several theological debates exist about who Jesus was (whether he was a simple carpenter or a prophet sent from God) we believe that he is the Son of God, sent to the world to deliver us from sin and death by offering an alternative way of life, a ‘Kingdom-centric’ ideology.

The Bible records that Jesus spent a period of about 33 years on earth, with only the last three of these dedicated to his ministry of salvation. Yet, more than two thousand years on, the impact of those three years is being felt immeasurably, with hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) added to the Christian faith every year.

Jesus was born into a simple family in the town of Bethlehem in Judea (now Palestine). While the Bible records that his birth was the result of what is known in Christian circles as ‘The Immaculate Conception’ (his mother Mary, a virgin, becoming pregnant by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit), he was brought up in Nazareth, with Joseph, a carpenter, as his recognised father.

During his ministry, Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and stood against the injustices of the teachers of the Law. He taught a message of love, peace, restoration and truth. But Jesus was more than a teacher, a political activist, a preacher, or a healer.

Far more than just an ordinary person, he was the Son of God, born of a human mother through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. He is The Christ (The Messiah) Matthew 4:42.

Where is Jesus now?

Though he ascended to heaven at the end of his earthly mission, Jesus is presently everywhere because he lives in the hearts and minds of the people who have invited him to do so. He is a truly international citizen, equally well-known and adored in Asia and Africa as he is in Europe and the Americas.

Why do we need Jesus?

We have all fallen short of the required standard, with each of us having repeatedly done things that are wrong – things that have caused hurt to others, or have hurt God. As well as damaging our lives and the lives of people around us, these wrong things (which the Bible calls ‘sins’) separated us from the love of God. Jesus, a perfect sacrifice because he knew know sin, paid the required price by giving himself in exchange for our sins.

Because sin separates us from God we needed someone to bridge the gap. As Jesus lived amongst us for a time, he understands how we feel and why we do the things we do. Being ‘one with God’, he was able to be that link between us and our Creator. Jesus became the price for our salvation, accepting a cruel and painful death on a cross, with only criminals for company.

Salvation was purchased when he rose from the dead two mornings after, and through his death and resurrection, he set us free from the power of sin, giving us his Holy Spirit to help us live in ways pleasing to God. It was through his humiliation, suffering, and death on the cross that Jesus overcame sin and death and won for us our salvation.

We desire for you to do more than take our word for it, and to investigate for yourself who Jesus really is. We have links to useful resources on this page, while looking at any page on our site will help you understand better what it means to be a Christian.