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In today’s political climate, authenticity, ironically, hides. How do we know whom to trust? What if someone doesn’t really mean what they’re saying? How do we know when someone just acts the way they think people want them to act without really being that way in their heart? It’s a question that can’t be answered for other people, but here are some Bible verses that can help you live like Jesus.
What Authentic Living Looks Like
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
Titus 2:11-12
Authentic living, as described in Titus 2:11-12, is a way of life that is grounded in the grace of God and actively seeks to live according to His will. It is a lifestyle that is marked by humility, self-control, and godliness. This type of living acknowledges the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and allows these truths to shape every aspect of your life.
Authentic living also involves being a positive influence on others through good works and sound teaching. It requires intentional effort to continually grow in faith and righteousness, with reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. Ultimately, authentic living reflects a heart that has been transformed by God’s grace and desires to glorify Him in all things.
Listen to this short segment of an Abide meditation based on Titus 2:11-12.
Live Like Jesus
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
To live like Jesus, we need to first adopt His mindset as described in Philippians 2:5-8. This passage encourages us to have the same attitude as Christ, who humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of being killed on a cross. This involves a word we all love: humility. Not humiliation, as in you’re letting people bring you shame, but putting others before ourselves, just as Jesus did when He willingly sacrificed His life for our salvation.
To imitate Jesus’ selflessness and servant heart means always seeking to serve and love those around us. To live like Jesus also involves being obedient to God’s will and following His example of walking in humility and love. By embodying these qualities, we can truly reflect the character of Christ in our daily lives.
This short snippet from an Abide meditation will help you reflect on what it means to live like Jesus.
Find Good Examples
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Following the example of others who are authentically following Jesus can help you live like Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul urges the church in Corinth to imitate him as he imitates Christ. This demonstrates the importance of having role models in our faith journey. By observing and learning from those who are truly following Jesus, we can gain insight into how to live a life that reflects His teachings and principles.
It also helps us to stay accountable and humble, as we see the imperfections in ourselves compared to those who are striving to live like Jesus. As we continue to follow the example of others, we not only grow closer to God but also become better examples for others to follow. By living like Jesus through the guidance of authentic followers of Christ, we can truly embody His love and grace in all aspects of our lives.
Now listen to a segment of a meditation from Abide based on 1 Corinthians 11:1.
Walk Your Talk
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25
Living like Jesus means more than just believing in Him and knowing His teachings. It also requires putting those teachings into action in our daily lives. James reminds us to not just hear the Word of God, but to do what it says. This means actively living out our faith through acts of love, kindness, and compassion toward others.
Just as Jesus showed us through His own life on earth, living like Him means being slow to anger, quick to listen, and abounding in mercy and grace. It means treating others with the same love and respect that we desire for ourselves. It also means being honest and humble, admitting when we make mistakes and seeking forgiveness from both God and those we may have wronged.
When we put these teachings into practice, our lives become a reflection of Christ’s love and light in this world. We become an example for others to follow and a testament to the transformative power of living according to God’s Word. As James reminds us in verse 25, it is only by doing what the Word of God says that we will be blessed in all that we do.
Let this short segment of an Abide meditation help you reflect on what it means to walk your talk.
To Live Like Jesus Means Living By Faith
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 2:20 reminds us that when we are in Jesus, we no longer do the living, but Christ who lives in us. Therefore, we should have complete trust and reliance on Him for everything. Just as Jesus lived a life of complete surrender to God’s will, we too must allow our lives to be directed by faith in God. By having faith, we are acknowledging that He is the one in control and that His plans for us are perfect. It also means trusting in His promises and relying on Him for strength and guidance during difficult times. Living like Jesus requires us to step out of our comfort zones and fully rely on God’s provision and guidance through faith.
This meditation from Abide will help you reflect on what it means to live by faith.
Live Like Jesus by Loving Authentically
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18
Loving like Jesus means more than just saying the words “I love you.” It means actively showing love through our actions and behaviors. 1 John 3:18 reminds us that we show true love through our deeds and being genuine in our intentions. Jesus Himself showed us the ultimate example of how to love selflessly and sacrificially. He loved without expecting anything in return, and Jesus calls us to emulate this kind of love. When we truly love like Jesus, we embody His teachings and reflect His character to those around us. May we strive to love others as Christ loves us, not just with words but with genuine actions from the heart.
Now listen to a short segment from this Abide meditation about authentic love.
People want authenticity in others, so being authentic people ourselves is important. By meditating on these 6 Bible verses, you can help build positive characteristics into your life and live more like Jesus.
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Stephanie Reeves is a senior content producer for Abide.
