To Do or Not To Do

My last post To Be or Not To Be was about how God calls us to be before he calls us to do.  That still leaves the question of what does he call us to do.  After we understand who we are called to be, what does God call us to do?

In John 13:34 Jesus tells us this "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  God calls us to be his disciples.  The verse goes on to say in v35 "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  In John 15 he restates the command "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:12-13).

If we are to be his disciples (imitators of Jesus), then we have to do what he did.  He loved people. Here are three ways that Jesus loved.

First, Jesus loved the people that others did not love.  In Matthew 11:19, Jesus is accused of being a "friend of sinners".  The people that the religious people rejected, Jesus hung out with.  He did not get hung up on popularity, stereotypes, or racial divisions.  He just loved everyone.

Next, He loved by serving.  In Matthew 20 it says  "25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (emphasis mine), and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  He models this in John 13 when he washed his disciples feet.  When he finishes he tells them to do serve each other like he served them.  

Lastly, Jesus loved by giving.  John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world He gave . . ."  John 15:13 he says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for his friends."  He gave everything to show us how much he loved us.  To love like Jesus loved is going to cost you.  

To be more like Jesus we have to love more like Jesus.  

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