How to Live for Jesus

Spend time praying each day.

Set aside a quiet time for prayer. Prayer is how we build a personal relationship with God. In fact, there are several times when the Bible describes Jesus going to a quiet place to pray. If the Son of God needed prayer as part of His spiritual life, imagine how important it is for you. Follow Jesus' example and make it a priority to spend some time each day talking to God and listening for His guidance. Pray about everything, from your troubles and sins to things you're excited about. Pray that God will help you make the right decisions in your own life, and pray for other people who are hurting or who haven't found God yet.

Serve others.

Honor Jesus by giving your time and energy to other people. Even though he was God's Son, Jesus didn't come here and demand that others bow down and wait on His every need. He fed people who were hungry, healed people who were sick, and even humbled Himself enough to wash someone's feet. If you want to live your life for Him, treat others the way He did—by helping them when they're in need, forgiving them when they do things wrong, and loving them no matter what. Try volunteering your time helping people in need in your community, like working at a soup kitchen or organizing a clothing drive. You can also serve people in a less formal way, like buying a sandwich for someone who's hungry or listening to a friend who's having a hard time. Share the gifts God has given you as a way to serve others—whether it's wisdom, wealth, or a talent like musical ability.

Study the Bible.

You have to understand God's word to live for Him. If you want to live for—and like—Jesus, you have to know what He was like. The first 4 books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell us about Jesus' life and the lessons He taught His followers. This can be a great place to start studying God's word, but don't stop there. Jesus instructed us to "keep the commandments" in Matthew 19:17, making it clear that it's important to understand all of God's law in order to really live like him. Try setting aside a little time each day to read your Bible. Even 5-10 minutes can help you understand the love of Jesus. It can help to do this at the same time every day, like as soon as you wake up, on your lunch break, or before you go to bed. If you're not sure where to start reading, buy a devotional book or sign up for a daily newsletter from a local church. These will give you a specific Scripture to meditate on each day.

Share God's word with other people.

Tell them about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. You're usually excited to tell your friends when you see a cool movie or eat at an awesome new restaurant, right? Well, in the same way, the best way to honor the amazing gift of Jesus is to share it with others. When you're spreading that love, you're truly living for Jesus and making Him the biggest priority in your life. In Matthew 5:14, the Bible says, "You are the light of the world." That means it's your job to share the light and hope of God's word with the people around you who are living in sin and hopelessness. Try joining an outreach ministry in your church to spread the message of Jesus while helping people in need. You could also share the story of what God has done in your life with the people you meet.

Resist temptation.

Pray that God will help you be strong against sin. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you'll never be tempted to sin. Jesus was the only person who never sinned, and even he was tempted by Satan! When you get saved, though, you're given the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will guide you to know what's right and wrong. And your faith in Jesus will give you the strength to make choices that will please God. In Matthew 6:13, Jesus prayed, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." You can use this same prayer when you're asking God to help you avoid sin. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible promises that you have the strength to overcome the urge to sin: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability."

Put God first.

Make Him the most important thing in your life. God's very first commandment is not to put any other gods higher than Him. However, it's more than just not following another religion—it means not having anything in your life that's more important to you than God. Ask yourself—where do you turn when you're upset? What makes you the most excited in your life? Do those things glorify God? In Ezekiel 14:3, the Bible describes idols as "things that will make [you] fall into sin." Idols can include harmful habits and substances, but they can also be things that are normally considered positive, like your career, friends, school, video games, or sports, if they interfere with your relationship with God. If you're willing to lie or steal or cheat to accomplish or obtain something, it's almost certainly an idol in your life. However, the sin might be more subtle, like getting angry or being jealous of someone else if you can't have it. God is all-powerful and all-knowing, but He's also loving and forgiving, and He wants us to live for Him.

Don't put too much value in material things.

What's waiting in heaven is more important than on earth. When you're living for Jesus, remember that your goal is ultimately to join God in heaven, and to do as much as you can to serve Him in the meantime. That means that you shouldn't put too much stock in obtaining money or possessions like clothes, electronics, or jewelry—they won't do you any good in your eternal life. You can have nice things, and you can even enjoy them—they're blessings from God, after all. Just don't let the pursuit of them distract you from serving God. In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a rich man, "If you would be perfect, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

Trust God's plan.

Look to Him for guidance even when times are hard. In Romans 8:28, the Bible promises that everything you go through is part of God's plan for you: "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good." This is true even when you're faced with incredible struggles, like sickness, poverty, or the loss of loved ones. Just keep praying that God will show you His will, and that He will be glorified through whatever you go through. That doesn't mean you have to always be happy about difficult circumstances. Jesus showed us this when He wept as He mourned the death of his friend Lazarus, even though He was about to bring him back to life! In Matthew 22:39, Jesus even prayed that God would help Him avoid being crucified. And yet, He still acknowledged the perfectness of God's plan when He said, "Not as I will, but as you will."

Spend time with other believers.

Rely on each other for support when you need it. Jesus was the perfect Son of God, but He surrounded Himself with companions—not just to teach them about God, but to help support Him when He needed it, too. In Matthew 26:38, as Jesus was facing death, He asked His friends Peter, James, and John to join Him as He prayed. That's a really powerful illustration of why Christians should spend time building strong, loving relationships with other followers. When you meet together, spend time praying, reading the Bible, and listening to each other. That fellowship will help you all grow as you follow Jesus.

Have loving relationships with non-believers, too.

Jesus spent time with both sinners and believers. Being a Christian doesn't mean shutting yourself off from anyone who doesn't believe the way you do. God calls us to love our neighbors—not just other Christians. You don't even have to spend all your time trying to convert non-believers. Spend time with them, listen to their problems, and be there when they need you. As they see Jesus working in your life, it may make them more curious to learn more about Him when they're ready. For instance, if you have a friend who doesn't go to church, you can invite them to yours, but don't pressure them too much. As long as you're not tempted to sin when you're with them, it's fine to hang out how you normally would, like going to a ball game or having dinner together. Show Jesus' love by encouraging and motivating others instead of criticizing them or putting them down.