How We Love Others as Jesus With Skin

How did Jesus love others? How can we love others like Jesus with skin?

God calls us to imitate His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ set the example of how to love others in the most godly and practical ways. This is how we love others as Jesus with skin.

We are called to love. Because the Bible never commands us to like others. But God’s Word commands us to love people.

So we look to the Scriptures to see how Jesus loved well in the midst of His biggest critics, the religious leaders. 

These religious men falsely believed a holy life meant keeping every letter of the law and adding to the law their own interpretations and rules, instead of showing compassion to others.

Even today, ministry may focus on programs over people, rules over compassion and love. 

Since Jesus led the way of loving unconditionally and practically, He is our example.

Christ set the example of how to love others in the most godly and practical ways. This is how we love others as Jesus with skin. Share on X

(1.) Love with kindness: Jesus with skin

I like the adage, “Kindness goes a long way.” And this definition for a person who’s kind: Sympathetic, friendly, gentle, tenderhearted, generous. (YourDictionary)

When others see a kind smile, kindness in word or action, or they notice generosity and compassion in us, they see kindness in us. They see Jesus in us.

Jesus exemplified kindness when He desired the children to come to Him, when He stopped to comfort and heal people with great needs, and when He looked at people with a compassionate heart. 

It’s love with kindness. Here’s how the Bible describes it.

“Love is patient and kind….” 1 Corinthians 13:4a (ESV)

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14 (ESV)

We love as Jesus with skin through kindness. 

When others see a kind smile, kindness in word or action, or they notice generosity and compassion in us, they see kindness in us. They see Jesus in us. Share on X

(2.) Jesus loves with truth.

Jesus never compromised the truth in order to love, not one time in His life and ministry. Instead, Jesus loved others with the truth. 

Consider the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Christ tore down social barriers by talking to a Samaritan and a woman about living water (John 4:4-42). Also, the woman caught in adultery was loved by Jesus with truth. But He didn’t overlook her sin or the sin of her accusers (John 8:1-11).

If we separate love and truth, we lose the true meaning of the gospel. 

God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16), who is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). 

We love with truth. Not in a brow-beating way, but in a humble, unconditional way like Jesus.

We love with truth. Not in a brow-beating way, but in a humble, unconditional way like Jesus. Share on X

(3.) Love with mercy and grace: Jesus with skin

Jesus loves with mercy and grace. Christ always extends His grace and mercy to every man, woman, and child from every walk of life. During His ministry, Jesus humbly offered grace to everyone.

And Jesus was merciful in His love. He taught others to graciously and mercifully forgive others as He forgives us. Christ even forgave those who crucified Him. 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 (ESV)

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” 2 John 1:3 (ESV)

We love with mercy and grace.

Love in Kindness, Truth, Grace And Mercy

I’m the first to admit how loving others in the way Jesus loves never comes easy. But I pray the Holy Spirit helps me love others in kindness, truth, grace and mercy—the way Jesus loves me. 

Featured photos courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.

Last week’s post, 20 Scriptures to Celebrate Freedom.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:

Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

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© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved