Following Jesus

INTRODUCTION: We sing songs about following Jesus. We read Bible verses about following Jesus (like Luke 9:23). But what does it mean to follow Jesus in our daily lives? The Bible tells us several ways in which we should be like Jesus. Let’s look at a few of them.

1. Follow Him in Love (Ephesians 5:1-2)
1. The Love of Christ (Ephesians 5:2)
1. A directed love "us" -not a general feeling of well being, but a love that is directed toward real people
2. A giving love "hath given" -John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave"
3. A sacrificial love "himselfan offering" -compare the widow who gave her two mites (Luke 21:1-4)
4. A God-pleasing love "a sweet smelling savour"
2. The Love of the Christian
1. An obedient love (Ephesians 5:1; 1 John 4:19)
2. A walk in love (Ephesians 5:2) -it should saturate our daily lives
2. Follow Him in Forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-13)
1. The Forgiveness of Christ (Colossians 3:13)
1. A personal forgiveness "you"
2. A completed forgiveness "forgave"; in the past tense
2. The Forgiveness of the Christian
1. A characteristic forgiveness (Colossians 3:12 "put on"); we are to wear it continually
2. An active forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)
1. Forbearing; this involves not taking offense in the first place
2. Forgiving; see the 70 times 7 forgiveness of Matthew 18:21-22
3. Follow Him in Humility (Philippians 2:5-8)
1. The Humility of Christ
1. A satisfied humility (Philippians 2:6)
2. A willing humility (Philippians 2:7)
3. A submissive humility (Philippians 2:8)
2. The Humility of the Christian (Philippians 2:5)
1. A mental humility "Let this mind be in you"
2. An inward humility "in you"; compare Philippians 2:3-4
4. Follow Him in Honor (Romans 15:1-3)
1. The Honor of Christ (Romans 15:3)
1. A selfless honor "pleased not himself"
2. A suffering honor "reproachesfell on me"
2. The Honor of the Christian (see Romans 12:10)
1. A strengthening honor (Romans 15:1)
2. A building honor (Romans 15:2); edification means the process of building up
5. Follow Him in Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-23)
1. The Suffering of Christ
1. A sinless suffering (1 Peter 2:22); He did not let His trials rob Him of His spirituality as we often do
2. A quiet suffering (1 Peter 2:23); He did not brag about how much He was suffering
2. The Suffering of the Christian
1. A blameless suffering (1 Peter 2:19); "for conscience toward God"
2. A patient suffering (1 Peter 2:20)
3. An obedient suffering (1 Peter 2:21)

CONCLUSION: We are to follow Jesus in the way that He lived. We are to be more like Him who died for us. Are you following Jesus in love? In forgiveness? In humility? In honor? In suffering? Would you make a commitment to be more like Jesus?