Do You Walk Like Jesus?

     John tells us that if we say we abide in Christ, we ought to walk like Him (1 John 2:6). The proof of our relationship with Him is shown by our living and acting just as He did.
     It is impossible to have a close personal relationship with someone with whom you cannot agree with. If you do not desire to be like Jesus in His life and conduct you cannot say that you truly abide in Him. What kind of fellowship can you have with Him when His holy ways are so disagreeable to you?
     Peter tells us that Jesus left us an example to follow(1Peter 2:21-24). His life was one that was spent on behalf of others. He suffered and died for us so that we could live righteously. He was reviled but did not revile in return. He uttered no threats. He forgave His persecutors.
     Look at the sermon on the mount and see that Jesus taught His followers to be forgiving, peacemakers, gentle, to even love their enemies! He taught us not to take revenge, not to retaliate, not to even pursue our own rights! This is so opposite what the world believes, and puts into practice.
     Jesus was not one to teach something that He was not willing to put into practice. When He told us that the greatest act of love was to lay down one's life for his friends, He proved it by dying for our sins (John 15:13).
     What does your life look like? Are you faithfully following in the steps of Jesus by loving those who do not love you? Are you obeying His commands as He obeyed His heavenly Father (John 6:38)? Do you freely forgive? Do you let go of wrongs done you, do you suffer wrongs without complaint? Are you patient and gentle, do you seek to be a peacemaker as far as it depends upon you (Romans 12:18)?
      Jesus was not always meek and mild either. He spoke out against sin and hardened unbelief. There was no compromise with evil for Him, and there can be no compromise for us either. There are times when like Christ, we too must stand against sin, no matter what others may say or do to us. This is where suffering and persecution enter in. We are told that if They persecuted Christ, they will persecute us as well (John 15:20).
     This is what Jesus taught us, and how He lived in this world. This is the litmus test of our salvation. Do you walk as Jesus walked?