Love Like Jesus: 4 Practical Ways to Show Love

When I was in a service at IYC these points about the love of Jesus kept coming to me over and over, until finally I made a note about it. I never know when I will get a special inspiration like that. What is amazing to me is that this message fits in our weekly reading portion of Scripture. That is how God works. If you are reading along, and I hope you are, then hopefully this will inspire you to keep reading. If you have not been reading along with us, I hope that this will encourage you to start reading along with us, either through and app that reads it to you or if you read it on your own.

Let’s read our main text John 19:16-30 from the NIV.

The bible says the world will know that you are my followers by your love. What are some practical ways to show love. I have come up with 4 that start with the letters of LOVE. Let’s get right to point 1.

1. Listen to others.

Matthew 8:5-10

As many of you know, in 2008 I had a brain tumor removed, which has caused several issues with my normal day to day life. One of which is when I get tired, my face starts to drop, my left eye doesn’t open as far and it is very very noticeable. Another issue is that I have a balance issue from time to time.

Probably the biggest is my loss of hearing in my left ear. I can’t tell direction of sound, so when there is a noise, I do not know where it comes from at all. Losing my phone and pinging it does me no good. I go from room to room, turning my body listening for the sound to be louder or quieter. I also have the ability to sleep on the ear that I can hear from and everything goes almost silent. Especially storms in the night.

With my loss of hearing, I also have problems making out what is said. If Cheryl doesn’t get my attention before she starts talking, I might hear this, “You are the best.” And she said, “get the ice chest.” Some of them are really funny and not appropriate for young viewers, and when I ask her what she said, I am pretty sure she changes it just to mess with me. Just kidding.

When it comes to listening to others sometimes we don’t hear correctly, sometimes we only listen to answer, and sometimes we only hear a little and then tune them out. We are so selfish, we act like we are interested, but when the story takes up too much of our time, we zone out. We stop listening.

Last meek in Wes’ Sunday school class, (here’s a plug for Sunday School, small groups and bible study), the Lesson was on Jesus’ interaction with the Centurion. Romans didn’t like Jews and the Jews didn’t like the Romans. Jesus took the time to listen to this Roman and was truly impressed by what he had to say.

We need to take the time to listen to anyone that needs someone to talk to. We need to put all prejudices, hurt feelings, and dislikes aside to love like Jesus did. One of the ways that Jesus showed love was listening to others. Another way is point #2.

2. Observe others (get to know them)

Mark 12:41-44

When Cheryl and I go shopping at the mall, well…when she goes shopping and I just drive and carry bags, there are many times that she will be in a store shopping and I will be standing in the corridor or hallway or whatever that area is that has kiosks in it. I can stand there for a long time just watching people, because people are interesting.

It is amazing the different body shapes, from tall to small, buff to scrawny, from big heads to long heads. I don’t really watch them to see the different body shapes, I just like to watch and see what people do. Whether they have children that are throwing a fit or those that are well mannered. I like to watch and see how parents react to children when the children are acting up. I like to watch to see if people are smiling or having a good time with friends or if they are on a mission and nothing will get in their way.

I don’t just watch people at the mall. One time we were at IHOP in Branson and the waitress had the worst customer ever. This woman was loud and rude and I would have spilled her water on her accidentally on purpose. The waitress was as kind as could be and apologetic for all the stuff that Nasty Nancy complained about. When we were done eating, even though that waitress was not ours, I gave her some money and told her that no one should have to put up with that kind of rudeness.

Jesus watched people too, like the widow at the money box, and He taught lessons from the way they acted and the things that they did. He made taught lessons about how to live for God out of people’s actions, because He loved them. If we are going to love like Jesus, we need to listen to others and observe them (get to know them) and we need to…point 3…

3. Volunteer our abilities.

Matthew 8:5-7

Matthew 14:14-21

That’s right the “v” in love is for volunteer. If you see someone in need and you want to show love to them volunteer your time. Volunteer your abilities. Many times, we don’t want to get involved or we are afraid that we will be taken advantage of.

Too many times, when we see a need and we think, “oh someone else will help”. Or “that makes me uncomfortable.” Can I let you in on a secret? Sometimes showing the love of Christ will make us uncomfortable.

Look at this story of the Centurion and how Romans and Jews didn’t get along. It would be easy to see how that would make someone uncomfortable.

We need to use our gifts to show love. Listen to what Paul writes in Romans 12:6 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

We say that we want to love like Jesus, but do we really. “But Mark, I can’t do it on my own”, you are right, you can’t but you can do all things through Jesus who gives you strength. But many of us will need to change our mindset. When was the last time that you did something that you didn’t do it because you like to or because there was something in it for you.

What was in it for Jesus when He was whipped and mocked and had a crown of thorns put on His head? What was in it for Jesus when He bled and died on the cross only for us to say as long as it doesn’t make me uncomfortable or as long as I get something in return? We are selfish and lazy sometimes. Jesus knew that many would take advantage of Him and He still did it. Even though, Mark, you will let me down, you will fail me, I will still die for you.

Kind of changes the perspective, right? At least it should. Volunteer. Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t wait for someone else. You maybe the only one that can do it the way you do, just do it.

Which brings us to our final letter of love, E….

4. Encourage others.

John 19:25-27

Hebrews 10:24

John 16:33

Myles Eckert, and 8-year-old, found a 20-dollar bill stuck in the snow just outside of a Cracker Barrel. He and his mom went inside for a meal and soon after was LT. Colonel Frank Dailey in his camo uniform that sat just a few tables away. Miles thought about all the different things he could by with $20 and then decided that he should do something different.

Miles got a post it notes and wrote a little message, folded the $20 and put the note around it. Took it to the table and handed it to the Lt. Col. Dailey, telling the Dailey that he just wanted to thank him for his service. When Dailey opened the note, it read.

Dear soldier — my dad was a soldier. He’s in heaven now. I found this 20 dollars in the parking lot when we got here. We like to pay it forward in my family. It’s your lucky day! Thank you for your service. Myles Eckert, a gold star kid.”

When Myles was just five weeks old his dad was killed in Iraq. Myles never got to see his father, never got to play with his father. Myles encouraged Daily in such a way that he shared this story with his sister, who posted it on social media. And through the encouraging act of an 8-year-old, over $2 million dollars was raised for Gold Star families.

I don’t know how your encouragement might affect someone else. I may not raise $2 million but it may mean the world to the person that receives it. Are you loving like Jesus?

Having Greater L.O.V.E. like Jesus