Love one another

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
(John 13:34-35)
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Christianity is founded on the divine love of God, and this was clearly demonstrated in God giving His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. John 3:16- 17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

These two verses powerfully show the nature and purpose of God’s love. In John 13, Jesus tells His disciples that His time with them was fast running out, as He faced the cross. He taught them humility by washing their feet. It was at this time of intense sorrow and deep passion of the Lord leaving them that He spoke to them of a new commandment he was giving them, in John 13:34.

The “newness” that Jesus referred to was in the sense of something refreshed, re-issued, re-emphasized or highlighted to show its importance. Already in Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus had given a lesson on love:

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Jesus calls on His disciples to love one another and we must respond because:

1. IT IS A COMMAND – John 13:34. The disciples of Jesus are obliged to obey the command of the Lord as evidence of their love to Him. (John 15:9-14; 17).

2. IT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OBEDIENCE – Matthew 22:36-40

3. IT IS A CONFIRMATION THAT WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES – John 13:35
The act of love we show to others, especially, between believers, is meant to be the primary and the most powerful evidence of our Christian faith. (1 Peter 1:22). Loving one another is a clear demonstration and testimony to the world of who we belong to, and gives a clear message of our faith.

Beloved our Master commands us to love one another, even as He loved us. His divine love was unconditional, selfless and non-selective. This is the standard the Lord has set for us. In ourselves we cannot meet this standard, but the Lord expects us to aspire to that, and emulate Him in the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. May the Lord help us find ways to demonstrate our love for one another, and let us remember that love is giving. May the Lord Himself live His life through us, to enable us to love one another. May we come to a point in our Christian lives that we can say with the Apostle Paul:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

May the love of Christ fill our hearts, so that it overflows to others. Shalom.

OUR PRAYER
Lord, help me live as Christ lived, in obedience to your will. May I love others as Christ loved, so that in myself I become nothing in order that Christ may be seen in me. Help me to show forth your love in my life to others in order to win them to your greater love. Amen.