Your Kingdom Come, Week 7

The heart of following Jesus...

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Think—What does it truly mean to follow Jesus? It's more than attending church or reading your Bible, though those are important. At its core, following Jesus means bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth through how we live each day. Jesus gave his disciples what he called a 'new command' - to love one another as he has loved them. This wasn't just another rule to follow; it was a complete transformation of how we understand our purpose on earth. When we align our lives with kingdom values, we become living demonstrations of heaven's reality. But here's the challenge: this kind of love requires a fundamental shift in our hearts. It's not about checking boxes or performing religious duties. It's about genuinely desiring to reflect the character of Jesus in every interaction, every decision, and every relationship. Think about your daily routine. Are you bringing glimpses of heaven's love, peace, and grace into your workplace, your family, your community? Or are you simply going through the motions of religious activity while your heart remains unchanged? The beautiful truth is that God doesn't expect you to manufacture this love on your own. He provides both the example and the power. But it starts with an honest assessment: do you truly desire to live like Jesus, or are you content with a surface-level faith that doesn't transform how you love others?

Reflect - When you examine your daily life, what evidence would others find that you're genuinely following Jesus and bringing kingdom love to earth?

Pray - Jesus, help me honestly examine my heart and my motivations. I want to be more than just someone who claims to follow you - I want to actually live like you. Show me areas where I need to align my life more closely with your kingdom values. Amen.