"A new command I give you: Love one
another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another."
John 13:34
These words in John 13:34 were said by Jesus during the Lord's Supper in what is called His "farewell discourse". It was said after Judas had left the room, leaving everyone pretty vulnerable. He was preparing His disciples for what would come in the next few days and weeks...soon He would surrender His life in "obedience even unto death" (Phil. 2:8). The next verse, v. 35, has such profound meaning, especially for us today:
"By this everyone will know that
you are my disciples if you love
one another."
This kind of love that we are to exhibit is agape love (one of 4 different words for love used in the Bible)...a doing kind of love, not a feeling kind of love. That would mean it's a choice for us to love...or to not love. The Bible says it's easy to love those we like...but not so easy to love the way God loves all. But that is how we are commanded to love and love is the key to our witness. Folks are watching Christians today...are we that kind of witness? Or are we the grouchy ones finding fault with all who believe differently than we do?
Here are a few ways we can choose to exhibit agape love:
--forgiveness (Ps. 103:12)
--service (Eph. 6:7)
--generosity (Acts 20:35)
--be merciful (Deu. 4:31)
--show compassion (Eph. 4:32)
--be gracious (Isaiah 30:18)
--show no partiality (Gal. 3:28)
Beth Moore in CHASING VINES said she was once asked the question: "What is the knot in your rope?"...simply, what holds you together? Without hesitation, she answered: John 15:9: Jesus speaking: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." His love holds us together...His love enables us to love others...His love causes us to love those who are different than we are...those who might believe differently than we do. It's a choice, friends. What are you choosing today? As our pillows today say, because "...God has so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
For further study: Ex. 20:4-6, Numbers 14:18, 2 Chron. 5:13, Ps. 32:10, Prov. 3:3, Jer. 31:3, Lam. 3:22-23, Romans 5:8, James 2:8, 1 Peter 4:8.
Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.
Love,
Holly
