“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)
Love each other.
So simple and yet, the command can be a struggle for us some days.
It boils down to loving one another in the same manner that Jesus loves us. As we recognize the magnitude of Jesus’ love for us, we are to love in the same unique way. The love we show and offer to others is the love we ourselves have received from Jesus.
But it is a command that will greatly impact everyone around us, if we truly love as Jesus loved. Our love for others is the proof to a world, who is watching, that we belong to Jesus. Love is the proof that we are His. As we love like Jesus, our love stands out as a fact that will be incapable to dispute. It will stand apart, clear evidence, its merit will be evident to those around us.
“Jesus said love one another. He didn’t say love the whole world.”
~ Mother Teresa
Love is to be:
- An Essential Portion. Love should a part of our everyday life, weaving through our words, actions,and interactions.
- Practical in its application, yet prompted supernaturally by the Holy Spirit.
Our love for others is rooted in the reality that we have been loved by Jesus.
“This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17, NLT)
Today I am joining … TrekkingThru the Week and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Woman to Woman .
I’ve been mulling over a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer lately as it relates to our church’s efforts to reach our community: (I won’t get it exactly right.)
If you fall in love with your vision of community, you will destroy community every time. But if you love those who are around you, you will build community everywhere you go.”
Thanks, Joanne, for reminding us of this one commandment that changes everything.
Michele, that is such a powerful thought on community! And so true! My son & I were talking about building community the other day. Going to share this quote with him. Thank you!
Love is the proof we are His. Love our neighbor as ourself. Reach out. Show genuine care in everyday ways. Oh, God, help me do this today as I interact with others.
I need His help as well, Debbie. As the days have passed since reading and writing this post, I have come to realize even further genuinely caring will mean loving and caring for others, irregardless of the way they have treated me at times. No room for retaliation. Genuinely caring. Authenticity. Integrity. Growing in Him will mean growing pains 🙂
That’s a powerful quote from Mother Teresa that I haven’t heard before. I like the idea of starting with one. Thanks for sharing!
I’m remembering the children’s song, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they will know we are Christians by our love.” May I walk in it! (Thanks for linking up today Joanne!!)
Char, so funny you mentioned the song. I have been singing it now for over a week!
Thanks for sharing the Mother Theresa quote. I hadn’t heard it before.
I also love what you said: “Love is the proof that we are His.” Conversely, when we act unlovely on social media after we’ve loudly proclaimed we are His … that hurts.
It really is all about love.
Jerralea, you have raised such a wise point. May we be careful how we act and post on social media. We can surely do much harm there. We must show His love no matter how we are in community. It all matters. Blessings!