“I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you should love one another.” John 13:34
WOW! Read that again…
I had read this passage many times before the second part jumped off the page and smacked me in the face! Think about it. It doesn’t say, “Love one another as much as you can.” or “when you are feeling good.” or “when everything in your life is going well.” And it doesn’t just say, “Love each other.” He (Jesus) could have stopped there, but no. He had to go the extra mile. He had to add the real kicker. “Love each other the same way I love you!” It is not enough to love each other with a human love. We are called to love each other with a God love! What is God’s love like? It is unconditional. It is patient. It is not self-seeking. It never fails. It has the power to reach into the darkest parts of a person’s soul and forever change lives. It “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:7) (Note the word all.)
There is only one way that we can be cable of loving in the same way God loves. That is to stay plugged into the source of that love. Bask in that love. Experience that love so you will know how it feels and what it looks like. You cannot give away something you don’t know.
Not only does God’s love know no conditions but it knows no end. We do not earn this kind of love. It is ours regardless of the mistakes we make, the attitude we have or even whether or not we choose to return it. Are you loving others this way?
I want to encourage you to set aside some time over the next few days. First, thank God for the amazing love that He has so graciously given you. Accept it as the free gift it is and take comfort in the fact that it is always yours, regardless of what you do or have done. You will never lose His love! Then take some time reading and rereading the scripture listed below. Let the Spirit use them to speak volumes to you about how much you are loved and how you should be loving others. You see, love actually has nothing to do with the one you are loving. It is a choice you make to fulfill the commandment of your Lord.
