Love others

“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬ ‭

Love one another. I think at times we get confused and think the line following says “As they have loved you” instead of “As I (God)
have loved you.”

It is easy to love those who love us well, but can we love those who do not treat us well? Can we still love them as God has loved us? Our actions are suppose to be based on who we are, not the actions of others.

Can I continue to act in line with my character despite what the other person has done? And then can I take it another step further, because I can admit sometimes my character shows its negative side; can I continue to act in line with the character of Christ ? It is a tall order, but we have Holy Spirit within us believers to empower us and love through us.

Loving others is not a suggestion, it is commandment. Jesus didn’t love at a distance. Remember the night of His crucifixion? Before going to the garden to pray, before the betrayal of Judas, before being abandoned by this disciples, Jesus was there washing their feet. The job of a sevant. He knew what they would do. It was not “What if they….” He knew and loved them any way. He died for them.

He died for us too. In return, He says, “Love like I have loved you.” We can love because He first loved us. We can love others because He loves us.

Prayer – Lord, help me to love other as you have loved me. Not because of how they love me but because You love me.