Love One Another
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)
Love & Lordship Focus…As we work and study through these “One Anothers” let’s prayerfully take a look at the context of each and trust The Holy Spirit to teach us more of Godly Love in each situation.
Our first “love one another” is actually mentioned twice in the same verse (John 13:34) as one of the most powerful commands that Jesus gives in line with the second greatest command for us to love others as we love ourselves. Any time in Scripture that The Holy Spirit has an author repeat what it said we need to pay close attention and perhaps none more than in this text. Jesus is telling us that we are to love others as He has loved (and does love) us.
This is no way negates the First and Greatest Command (Mark 12:29-31) as that would diminish His Word and Truth and we know that can’t happen. So this double “love one another” as He loves us comes from the Source of God’s Love and our loving Him!
Do you know how much He loves you? Are you growing in your love for others in that same way?
Remember there are 11 “Love one anothers” in Scripture and most are in John’s Gospel and his letters. Our next “one another” is another “love one another” (trying saying that 3 times fast) following right on the heels of Jesus new command in John 13:34. In v. 35 He literally describes how others (other believers and the world)…”all” will know that we are His followers by the way we love one another!
Does your love for others (spouse, children, family, church family, friends, acquaintances, even enemies) show others that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Food for Thought…You can’t be at truly love others unless you know and have the love of Christ in your heart. Only then will your love be seen in such a way that points to Him and that “all” others will know that you belong to Him…it is by our love that they will know who we are and have an opportunity to know our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Love in Action –
- Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start
- Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you
- What does your Love for God look like? How are you building that relationship?
- What does your love for others look like? Does it reflect the false love of the flesh and culture…or the real Love of God in Christ?
Contact us at loveandlordship@gmail.com.
Love and Lordship Prayer Focus…Heavenly Father help me to love others in such a way that they will know that I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and will desire to know Him as Savior and Lord as well. In His Name. Amen.