Love’s got a pretty bad rap these days. It’s often tossed around like a hashtag, reduced to fleeting feelings or convenience. The world tells us love is about what we can get out of it. You know how it goes: ‘I’ll love you as long as it suits me,’ and ‘I’ll care only if you don’t annoy me.’ It’s like everyone’s swiping right on emotions. This is the pattern where love looks more like a transaction than a true connection.
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When self-interest takes the wheel, love becomes a shadow of its real self. There’s a warning about this in the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:1-2 lays it out straight. Basically, people will love only themselves in tough times, which sounds kind of eerily accurate today. Putting “me first” can make it hard to truly see others, let alone put them first.
So, what’s the point in calling out this fake version of love? It’s all about unlearning what we’ve picked up from the world and starting to see love through a different lens, one that’s more in line with how Jesus sees it. His kind of love flips the script. It’s deeper, richer, and unapologetically about others.
By looking at how Jesus demonstrated love, we find a path to a more genuine, fulfilling way to love that can shift our focus from what’s comfortable for us to what’s truly meaningful. The challenge is real, but so are the rewards. It’s about embracing love as a choice, not just a feeling, and letting that guide how we treat those around us.
Jesus: The Embodiment of Selfless Love
When you think about someone who didn’t just talk the talk but truly walked the walk, you think of Jesus. He had this radical way of showing love that flipped expectations on their head. Take the time when He reached out to those society shunned—lepers, sinners, anyone the world labeled ‘unlovable.’ He saw beyond appearances and behaviors to the soul in need. Mark 1:40-42 gives us a glimpse of this as He touched and healed lepers, showing no one is beyond love’s reach.
Jesus wasn’t making some grand gesture to prove a point; He was living love in every interaction. Remember when He got the news of Lazarus dying ? Jesus shared in the grief of those around Him. John 11 tells us He wept, not because He lacked faith( because he knew as God, he would bring him back to life), but because He felt deeply as a man what we feel from losing a love one to death. His compassion wasn’t distant; it was real emotional stuff that moved Him and drove Him to act. Are you the kind of person who’s there in the tough times, who listens, puts yourself in another’s shoes and shares in pain?
And then there’s the story of humility that keeps on teaching—remember the foot washing on that night before things hit the fan? Jesus knew He was on His way to the cross, yet He took the time to wash His disciples’ feet, even the one who would betray Him, Judas. That’s from John 13. It wasn’t a chore or a show; it was an act of gentle strength, teaching that true leadership is rooted in service. Real love isn’t about getting something in return; it’s about giving without strings.
So, how can this shape our world today? When you consider how Jesus lived, it’s a clear call to action: Love isn’t about waiting for others to meet your needs; it’s about stepping out and meeting theirs. There’s a pattern here worth adopting, a pattern of choosing love over convenience.
Applying Jesus’ Love in Everyday Life
Learning to love like Jesus sounds like a tall order, but it’s really about the little things we do every day. It’s about showing up. Whether it’s being a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, it starts with being present and truly seeing the person right in front of us. Romans 12:15 nails it, asking us to ‘mourn with those who mourn’—just be there when it matters.
Being willing to love when it’s inconvenient is another leap towards this Jesus-kind of love. It might mean going out of your way or sacrificing time, comfort, or money for someone else. Love isn’t always easy, but those sacrifices, big or small, are what move us to live beyond self-interest. Imagine the impact if we all gave a little more than we got back.
Then there’s the call to love unconditionally—that’s the real test. Showing kindness toward folks who can’t or won’t return the favor is tough. It flips that ‘something in it for me’ mindset and challenges us to reflect Jesus’ love where it counts most—among the unappreciated and the unseen. Love isn’t calculated with tally marks; it’s free.
To keep our hearts aligned with this love, personal reflection and prayer can be a compass. Consider asking for help to see moments where love can shine.
A Prayer for Christ Like Love: “Lord, help me love like You love—not with words, but with action. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Teach me to serve, forgive, and give freely, so the world may see You in me. Amen.”
