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I read this on twitter the other day….

Margaret Feinberg ”@mafeinberg

Morning Chutzpah: “There is no one more lonely than those who love only themselves.” ”“Jewish Proverb

Seriously, how good is that!!! As I continued to think about it, I found myself wondering…

Perhaps this is why Jesus repeatedly tells us to love others.

We tend to think of loving others as a benefit to others. But what if there is mutual benefit? What if it actually benefits us as well? What if loving others truly is the cure for loneliness? Would we go read to the child who wants to hear a story? Would we send that card to a shut-in? Bring food to the hungry? The more I thought about it, I began to think about the number of times we are instructed in Scripture to “love others”….

  1. “Owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” (Romans 13:8 NLT). Did you catch it? We are obligated to love one another? The NLT Study Bible comments, “If we truly love others, our actions will reflect all the commandments in the law that concern our relationships with other people.” (page 1916).
  2. “Be completely humble & gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NIV). We are to make allowance for the faults of one another because of our love. Don’t be so quick to criticize, to judge, to dislike. But remember that they are yet a work in progress & for the record, so are each of us.
  3. “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers & sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”  (1 Peter 1:22 NLT). If we keep in mind that we have been the recipients of God’s love, we will be able to love others. And notice that love is to be sincere & deep.

It is the very words of Jesus Himself that are searching my heart……

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”                   (John 13:34, 35 NLT)

The manner in which we interact with each other truly does matter. It matters to a dying world that needs proof – proof that we are truly His. And love is the key – our love for one another.

So how are you doing? Are you loving? Are you loving others?