Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6
This could be one of the most humbling verses in all of Scripture. Think about the statement that John was making here in this verse. He is begging people not just to follow Jesus with their words, but to show it with their actions. The way that we live, talk, and breathe should reflect the fact that we have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Think about this statement and verse in the context of our world. Do those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus represent Him well? Some of His last words before He left earth were to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). He wanted us to go to the lost and broken, those who are far from God, to share His message of love. He wanted us to follow His example, as He often made time for tax collectors, fisherman, the poor, liars, and thieves, loving them in spite of the fact they didn't have it together. Jesus had eyes to see what they might become if they made changes. How many of us do the same? Often, we get bogged down by a person's current sinfulness that we only see the consequences of their bad behavior. We have to gain the eyes and the heart of Jesus to separate the sin from the sinner. We have to demonstrate a genuine love for those who are far from God.
Many in churches have forgotten the difference one life can make. They tend to see their role in going to church once each week as enough. When people take on this attitude, the church becomes a country club-type atmosphere, rather than a hospital to care for the hurting and wounded. People see the church as a place to meet their own needs and the needs of their family, instead of a place to reach the lost. They forget the power each person has to be a light in a dark place.
Living like Jesus means that we have a heart for those living in the grips of sin. It means that we make the walk across the room or the intersection to care for them while sharing the good news of Jesus. It is time that we as a church rekindle the fire of making Christ known.
Think through where you are at right now with God. Does your life reflect that you love and follow Jesus? Is there an area where you can do better in your faith? When was the last time that you shared your faith in Jesus with another person? The hope is that we will all take a hard look at how our lives can make a difference. When a person realizes that their actions can change the trajectory of another person's life, they will start to make a difference. Let today be that day for you. Describe below what action you can take today.
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.
If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
