Let’s be honest: Trying to live like Jesus today can feel kind of impossible sometimes. Between nonstop notifications, overflowing calendars, and the stress of just trying to keep up with life, how are we supposed to be more like someone who lived thousands of years ago?
But here’s the thing: Jesus wasn’t just someone from a distant past. His teachings and the way He treated people are more relevant than ever. He didn’t just talk about love, grace, and truth. He lived it out in the middle of a messy world.
So what does it actually look like to live like Jesus today? Not in some over-spiritualized way, but in real-life, everyday situations? Here’s a look at 9 ways to follow His example right now, without needing to be perfect and have it all together.
1. Love People Who Are Hard to Love
Jesus made a habit of staying with people most others ignored, avoided, or judged. Think about it: tax collectors, lepers, women caught in scandal, sinners of all kinds. He didn’t tolerate them, He truly loved them. And not just with words, but with action.
Living this out today means being kind to the coworker who gets on your nerves, showing grace to the rude cashier, or even forgiving someone who never said sorry. It’s about choosing compassion when you really want to choose distance.
Loving difficult people doesn’t mean being weak. It means choosing empathy, understanding that everyone is fighting battles you don’t see, and remembering that love is stronger than judgment.
2. Be Present in a Distracted World
Jesus wasn’t in a rush. He didn’t scroll through distractions. He didn’t multitask while people were pouring out their hearts. He was fully present. Whether it was a woman at a well or a tax collector in a tree, He stopped, listened, and made people feel seen.
Try doing that in your everyday life. Look up from your home. Make eye contact. Listen without thinking of your reply. When someone is talking to you, give them your full attention like they’re the only person that matters in that specific moment. Our world is starved for presence. Being fully present is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to live like Him.
3. Serve Without Expecting Something in Return
Jesus washed the feet of His followers. He took on the role of a servant, even though He was their Teacher, their Leader, their Savior. And He didn’t do it to get applause. We can live this out by doing small, humble things for others without expecting praise. That might mean taking out the trash without being asked, helping a friend move, or making dinner for a neighbor going through a hard time.
True service doesn’t look for recognition because it just loves people through action. Jesus didn’t serve to be seen. He served because it’s who He was. And it can be who we are, too.
4. Speak Truth With Grace
Jesus didn’t shy away from speaking the truth. He challenged religious leaders, confronted injustice, and called out sin. But He always did it with love and grace. He didn’t weaponize truth, and instead He used it to set people free.
In today’s world, it’s tempting to swing one or two ways: avoid conflict entirely or go full-blown internet warrior. But living like Jesus means holding truth and grace in the same hand. It means being honest but gentle. Bold but kind. Firm, but loving. Whether you’re having a tough conversation with a friend or navigating disagreements online, ask yourself: Am I speaking with love? Am I listening as much as I talk? Would Jesus say this the way I’m saying it?
5. Forgive Like It’s Your Job
Jesus forgave people who betrayed Him, mocked Him, and nailed Him to a cross. And as He was dying, He said, “Father, forgive them.” There’s a level of forgiveness that goes beyond human logic. But it’s also the kind of forgiveness He invites us into.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting, excusing, or pretending it didn’t hurt. It means choosing to release someone from the debt they owe you, but not because they deserve it, but because you’ve been forgiven too. Living like Jesus means letting go of resentment before it becomes poison. It means healing over holding on. And sometimes, it means forgiving someone every day until it finally starts to stick.
6. Choose Peace Over Power
Jesus could have taken over the world with force. Instead, He chose peace, humility, and sacrificial love. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warhorse. He didn’t feed on power. He redefined it.
In today’s culture, power and success are often idolized. But Jesus calls us to a different path. That means choosing gentleness over control, patience over proving a point, and humility over being right.
Living like Jesus means you don’t always have to win the argument. You don’t have to climb the ladder at someone else’s expense. You don’t need applause to know your worth. Real strength looks like humility, not ego.
7. Prioritize Time with God
Even with crowds following Him, miracles happening, and disciples depending on Him, Jesus regularly slipped away to spend time with His Father. It wasn’t optional. It was essential. In a world that celebrates being constantly available, making space for prayer, rest, and quiet time can feel countercultural. But if Jesus needed time alone with God, how much more do we?
This doesn’t have to look like hours in solitude. It could be ten quiet minutes with a cup of coffee and an open Bible. A walk where you just talk to God. A few deep breaths and a whispered prayer in between meetings. Time with God isn’t about checking a box. It’s about staying grounded in the One who gives us the strength to live like Jesus in the first place.
8. Stand Up for the Marginalized
Jesus constantly sided with the forgotten. He healed lepers, defended women, dined with outcasts, and stood between the vulnerable and the self-righteous. He didn’t stay silent when people were hurting. He stepped in.
Today, there are still countless people being pushed to the margins, whether because of poverty, race, disability, gender, mental health, or immigration status. Living like Jesus means not looking away. It means using your voice, your resources, and your influence to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. It means seeing people the world overlooks and treating them with dignity, honor, and compassion.
9. Live with Eternal Perspective
Jesus lived every moment with eternity in mind. He didn’t get caught up in status, wealth, or public opinion. He wasn’t chasing comfort. He was building a kingdom. And that’s the perspective that we need too.
It’s easy to get swept up trying to achieve more, earn more, look better, be liked, and stay relevant. But none of that lasts. What lasts is how we loved, who we served, and how we pointed people back to Jesus. Living like Him means zooming out. Remembering that this life is a blink. And choosing to invest in what actually matters.
If you think about reading the Bible, you should read this book first. This guide will provide a brief, concise overview of personal Bible study.
If you liked this article and are looking to learn more about Jesus’ life and teachings, here’s what you can read next: 10 Lessons That Jesus Gave Us
