Living the Love We Proclaim

We all love the saying, "love like Jesus". It's a phrase we paste on T-shirts, bracelets, worship lyrics, and instagram bios. It rolls of the tongues of Christians and is the life motto of many. But if we are all honest, there are times when our "love" is limited and conditional. There are moments when our empathy doesn't stretch beyond people who look like us, think like us, or believe the same things as us.

It's a realization that leaves many uncomfortable, even angry. But following Jesus has never been about staying comfortable. John reminds us, "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). You see, loving like Jesus isn't proven in putting it as your Instagram caption. It's directly revealed in the way we treat others regardless of circumstances, bias, race, religion, political party, or beliefs.

One passage that has been on my heart lately is Luke 10 when a man asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?". Jesus answered with a story. A Jewish man was traveling alone down a hot, dusty road known for its dangerous crime. Then, robbers attacked him, stripped him of everything, and left him half-dead on the side of the road. He was too weak to cry out for help and too broken to move. On the side of that road, he clung to life, hoping and praying anyone might stop and help him.

Not long after, a priest came walking by. From first glance, he seemed like the perfect candidate to offer help to this man. After all, he was a religious leader and likely respected and admired by many. However, when he saw the hurt man on the side of the road, he looked at him in disgust and continued on his way. Maybe he was busy and had somewhere to be. Or perhaps he didn't want to ruin his fancy new outfit. Maybe he assumed this man probably got himself into trouble by making bad choices and felt he deserved what had happened. Whatever his reasoning was, he chose distance and his own comfort over compassion. Shortly after, a Levite came along. He was another religious man and someone raised in service to God. Surely this one will stop, right? But no. He saw the man and continued on his way.

Then the unexpected happened. A Samaritan, someone despised by the Jews at the time, approached the hurt man. Centuries of cultural tension and prejudice began to unravel as the last person expected to help, extended his hand. He saw the broken man and had compassion on him. He didn't cross the road and continue on his way; he came closer. He knelt down, cleaned the man's wounds, and carefully bandaged them. He lifted him onto his own donkey and brought him to an inn. He paid for his stay and even promised to come back and cover any extra fees.

After Jesus finished telling this story, He turned to the crowd and asked this piercing question: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” (Luke 10:36). The answer was obvious: the one who showed compassion and mercy. Then Jesus gave the command for us to go and do the same.

If I'm being honest, I can see myself in the priest and the Levite more than I'd like to admit. I've scrolled past stories of people hurting because it felt "too heavy". I've stayed quiet about injustices because they didn't directly affect me. I've walked past a homeless man on the street, and assumed things about his story. I've been quick to show compassion to the people in my circle or who I relate to, but hesitate when the situations feel uncomfortable.

But scripture warns us about selective empathy in James 2:3-4. It says, "If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,'  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?." It's not easy to comes to terms with this idea or even admit that we have acted that way. But part of following Jesus is allowing HIm to gently uncover the places where our love falls short.

So then, what does it really mean for us to "love like Jesus"? Above a list of rules and regulations, the Bible says they will know us by our fruits and the greatest commandment we were given was to love one another.  That said, the greatest impact Jesus made had less to do with the rules He obeyed, and everything to do with the way He loved without condition.

When I look at Jesus, it's a humbling picture. He loved Judas, knowing full well his betrayal would put Him to death. Jesus prayed for the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross. He touched lepers when no one else would. He sat at tables with people most of society avoided. His love wasn't selective. His love was sacrificial. This kind of love sometimes feels impossible in our own strength. But maybe that's the point. It's that kind of love that pushes us back to the cross and reminds us of the undeserved love we've already been given. You see, how you love others is a direct reflection of how you view the heart of Christ. 

So, my question for you is, how do you love those who are different than you, who don’t look like you, or who believe something different than you? Who are you walking past like in the parable of the Good Samaritan? You see, the love of Jesus should urge you to cross the road, to move toward people you'd rather avoid, to defend those without a voice, to fight against injustice, to see the image of God in the person who doesn't see the world the way you do, and to extend compassion even when it's inconvenient.

And this is where the Beatitudes truly come alive. Jesus said in Matthew 5, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:7,9). The kind of love Jesus calls us to isn’t shallow, it’s kingdom love. It’s mercy when others choose judgment. It’s peacemaking when the world thrives on division. It’s humility, compassion, and sacrifice in a culture obsessed with self.

Truth be told, selective empathy is safe, but Christlike love will always be costly. And yet, it’s in those costly moments where mercy meets brokenness, where peace enters conflict, and where compassion bridges division that the world doesn’t just hear about Jesus, they see Him.

So may we be a people who don’t just say “love like Jesus,” but live it by crossing the road, extending mercy, and embodying the kind of love that only comes from the Kingdom of God.

May your roots run deep, and your faith remain strong! As always, Stay Rooted, my friends! <3