“A new command I give to you, love one another, as I have loved you, so you you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Christians can really be mean to each other. We are quick to point out faults. We gossip and envy one another. It is not a pretty picture, yet Jesus says when we love each other, the world will know that we belong to Him.

So, how do we fix this? I professor of mine taught on these two verses, he said, “Look. This is a new commandment. This is not just an idea of Christians loving each other just like Christ loved us. This is a commandment. It’s not a suggestion. We are to love one another.”

If you have you given your life to Christ, you realized at some point that your life was on the wrong path. And you turned and said, “Jesus is the right path.”You agreed to Him being the boss. So you said, “Thank you for saving me, but also thank You for being in charge of me now. I submit to Your commands.” So we are commanded, it’s not optional, that we as Christians love each other. He died for us, and He forgives us unconditionally. And He gives us chance after chance, and grace after grace. Then we mess up again and what does He do? He comes and holds us close to Him. Why can’t we love each other like that and say, “You know what? I know that you’re a mess, so am I” and then show them we love them as Jesus showed us?

Jesus is so concerned about us being right with each other that He said, “It’s better for you to stop worshiping and ask forgiveness than it is just to keep worshiping and doing your church thing.” Is there somebody you need to forgive? Somebody you struggle to love? Get it right, so folks outside the church can say, “Those people really love each other. I guess that’s what it means to be a Christian.”

“Be so busy loving God and loving others that you have no time for regret, worry, fear or drama.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Teach me to love, Lord, as You love, Make it unconditional, honest, and kind, To ask nothing back in return, Lord, To encompass the whole of mankind. May I offer my love without speaking, May it radiate as it shines forth from me, May it be seen in my face and my eyes, Lord, May it be simple, sincere, and shame free. Show me how to forgive, Lord, as You do, To not burden another with guilt, To not play the role of the martyr, To be a rock on which trust may be built. Make my love for others be greater by far Than any love that is offered to me, Led by the Spirit, Inspired of God, As forgiving as Jesus…and free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org