October 15, 2026 | Be Connected
Living as Jesus Did
Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6(NIV)
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Devotional
In His Great Commission, Jesus told us to go and make disciples. My working definition of a disciple is someone who knows, loves and obeys Jesus Christ. All three of these verbs show up in today’s passage.
Whenever I get pushback on my definition it is on the word obey. Almost everybody agrees that we are called to know Jesus in a personal way. And virtually 100% say that Christ desires for us to love the Lord and love people. But people sometimes hesitate at the word obey. I guess it sounds too legalistic.
Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 14:23-24).
In the aforementioned Great Commission, Jesus said that part of making disciples is “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus even said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14).
Our benchmark for obedience is Christlikeness. Living as Jesus did isn’t automatic. If it were, Jesus and John and others wouldn’t have had to remind us to do so. Perhaps my working definition can shed some light.
To know involves the mind. We get to know someone by spending time with them, asking questions, listening, learning about them, and eventually knowing how they think.
To love involves the heart. We love by being vulnerable, passionately caring, feeling what the other feels, having compassion, rejoicing and crying along with them.
To obey involves the will. In a hierarchical sense it is about doing what they command. In a relational sense it is about honoring what they desire.
As a disciple of Jesus, what is the growing edge of your discipleship journey with Him?
