For many people, Jesus was a beacon of hope, imparting knowledge to those around Him as well as modern people who learn from His life. Here are 19 rules Jesus gave us to live by that we can apply to our everyday life.
Love One Another
One of Jesus’s core messages was to love others in the same way we would love ourselves. For example, in John 13:34, Jesus states: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Forgive Others
Forgiveness is taught by Jesus who preached that it was essential in order to receive God’s forgiveness and as a path to healing and reconciliation. For example: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).
Judge Not
Jesus warned people against judging others to avoid being judged oneself as seen in Matthew 7:1: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). He advocated for being compassionate and kind towards others instead of judging or condemning them.
Serve Others
Serving one another is encouraged by Jesus who urges His followers to work together such as in Matthew 23:11: “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Jesus’s words are powerful as Forbes claims it is oftentimes what informs the values that guide our actions.
Seek First the Kingdom of God
On Earth, Jesus teaches us that material possessions do not matter in the grand scheme of things and that we should trust in God. He preaches: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Be Humble
Humility was promoted by Jesus who teaches us to avoid having an excess of pride. In Luke 14:11, He states: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This urges us to serve others with grace.
Love Your Enemies
While it can be difficult to do, Jesus commands us to love our enemies and even those who persecute us. For example: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This will lead us to become more merciful to our opponents.
Do Unto Others
Similar to karma, this rule symbolizes treating others as one would wish to be treated. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” His words inspire us to be empathetic and respectful in the way we live our lives.
Store Treasures in Heaven
Eternal life and Heaven are huge themes in the Bible, urging us to live a wholesome earthly life to obtain God’s grace. Jesus advised on centralizing your efforts on eternal rewards rather than material possessions as He promises that spiritual fulfillment is more valuable.
Be a Peacemaker
According to The Guardian, there are millions of people of faith across the world engaging in social action projects to help the poor and marginalized. This aligns with Jesus’s message to us about being peacemakers by promoting harmony to become seen as God’s children.
Have Faith
Faith was strongly encouraged by Jesus who revealed that it would lead to miracles and salvation. For instance: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed… Nothing will be impossible for you,” (Matthew 17:20) indicating that faith can solidify your relationship with God.
Be Merciful
Showing mercy is something that Jesus embodied in His life. He also advises us to do the same to become more like God. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7) shows us that compassion and kindness attract God’s mercy.
Give Generously
Hoarding items, money, or kindness is warned against by Jesus who guides us towards giving to others to fulfill ourselves. For example: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over…” (Luke 6:38).
Seek God’s Will
In our lives, we should strive towards submitting to God’s will above all else. Jesus himself embodied this as He said: “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). He valued bowing before God as He suggested that this would lead to divine guidance and fulfillment.
Avoid Hypocrisy
There shouldn’t be a gap between what we preach and what we do, according to Jesus. He strongly dissuades people from being hypocritical, instead promoting genuine faith and actions. Rather than giving to others to be seen as ‘good,’ He encouraged acting from the heart.
Pray Sincerely
Prayer is featured many times in the Bible, where Jesus would turn to prayer in times of distress or struggle. He encourages us to do the same in our lives to have a deeper connection with God. CNN reports that prayer might also help reduce stress, loneliness, and fear.
Keep the Commandments
The Ten Commandments are vital in the Bible and Jesus emphasized the importance of obeying God’s commandments. For example, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Following the Ten Commandments shows an adherence to God’s laws and exhibits love and faithfulness.
Be Light and Salt
Jesus called His followers to positively influence the world as He said: “You are the light of the world… You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13–14). We are to be examples and preservers of goodness and truth in everything we do.
Trust in God’s Provision
Trusting in God is championed by Jesus who tried to persuade those around Him to put their faith in God’s plan. The New York Times revealed that Christ used questions to enter more fully into the lives of others and to help people look at the state of their hearts.
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