[Image via betsyweber – Creative Commons] [To see the previous Love Like Jesus post, go to Trading Recognition for God’s Glory]
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” –Matthew 8:5-8, 13
How Jesus Loved People
Jesus loved people by doing for them, what they couldn’t do for themselves.
Love Like Jesus
So you want to live and love like Jesus did. So you can please God, and you can be someone who attracts people to Jesus, and hopefully glorify God’s name. But when you study the life of Christ, you think to yourself, “Ha, what chance do I have? Jesus, without coming anywhere near the centurion’s servant, healed him of his paralysis. Even a great doctor couldn’t do that, and I’m not a doctor–I’ve never even played one on TV. Jesus made the blind see and the deaf hear. Jesus cast out demons. Jesus even raised people from the dead! What chance do I have to live and love like Jesus?”
Hope For Those Of Us Who Can’t Raise People From The Dead
“What chance do I have to live and love like Jesus?” That’s a great question. And Jesus answers that question in Matthew chapter 25. He tells of the time when Christ will say to those belonging to Him, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (see Matthew 25:31-46)
Do you see it? When you’re living and loving like Jesus, you don’t have to heal people, or restore their sight or hearing, or raise them from the dead. You can live and love like Jesus by doing far less than he did for people.
One Key To Helping People Like Jesus Helped People
One very important key, and that is: Do for others what they can’t do for themselves.
That’s what Jesus did. Check for yourself. Go through the gospels and see. Every time he helped someone, he did something they couldn’t do for themselves. You and I can do that!
If someone can’t feed herself, give her food. If someone can’t house himself, take him in. If a person can’t care for himself because he’s sick, look after him.
And further: If someone can’t fix their computer, and you have talent with computers, then fix it. If someone can’t fix their car, and you have mechanical ability, then fix the car. If someone has a problem with their home, and you have talent with home repairs, then help.
It can (and often is for mere mortals like you and I) be a small thing.
The key is to do the thing you can do, that they can’t do.
That’s what Jesus did.
Do this and you’ll hear the King (with a capital ‘K’) say, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Who doesn’t want to hear those words from God?
You can do it.
Go do it!
Jesus did.
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This passage of spiritual and practical wealth in Christ is very encouraging. Our Help* comes from the Lord!
There shouldn’t be a day gone by without extending our help to someone, no matter how trivial it may seem to us. For me, that includes smiling at some/loved one, giving a hug or simply saying/texting, “I love you!” I love you brother, sir. May the blessings of the Lord continue to make you and your ministry rich. In Jesus’ name, Amen!