Learning To Love With The Love He Has For Us

In review of John 13:34 it says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Bottom Line:

Love one another, just as I have loved you.

What this means to me:

Jesus gives me a new commandment and that is to love others, just like He loves me.

Today's passage comes from the last part of John 13. Jesus is telling his disciples that his time has come. He gives them (and myself) a new commandment, to love each other! A love with the same passion He has for us. With this same passion I should love others. My love for others will prove to the world that I am truly his disciple.

To love others was not a new commandment, but to love others as much as Christ love others was revolutionary. Now I am to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ; it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be living examples of Jesus' love.

Jesus says that my Christlike love will show I am his disciple. Love is more than simply warm feelings; it an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it's not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others' welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of love is hard to do. This is why people take notice when I do it.

The good news is that no matter how many times I fail, God will always love me because God’s love is not based on me... but on Him. I am most like Him when I love those around me as myself.

I often judge others on their actions, while I only judge myself on my intentions. I am to give people the benefit of the doubt and apply forgiveness liberally. It is easy to condemn... but that’s not my job. I don’t really know what anyone else is going through or their particular battles. Leave those things to Go.

I am called to love one another as Christ love the church. Instead of pointing out someone else’s faults, worry about my own; that should give me plenty to do.  

Lastly, when life knocks me down, dust myself off, get back up, and get in the game. God’s love for me is immeasurable. Get ready to dive right in and soak up every drops.