"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Scripture Focus: John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:16-18
"If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:16-18)."
This is Christianity 101. The Christian life begins with a love for the Savior and a love for those who have been adopted into the same family.
Sometimes you hear people say, "I love the Lord. I just have a hard time with the church."
I just want you to know—out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ—this is how you display to the world that you belong to Him: You love His people.
Why is this commandment to love one another called "new" if it's from the Old Testament? I think it's new because of the degree in which we express this love. Jesus doesn't just say to love one another. He says, "Love one another, even as I have loved you."
This is a game changer.
How has Jesus Christ loved you? Let's think about that.
First, Jesus love is marked by humble service. In the same chapter, the disciples are bickering about who is the greatest. Jesus gets down on His knees and begins to wash their feet. It says in 13:1 He loved them to the max.
You cannot get any more basic than this: True love serves.
Can I tell you something rather basic?
If you are not a servant, you do not love like Jesus. You are as loving as you are serving of other people.
People say, "I just want to serve the Lord, not other people." But God doesn't need your help. So what does it mean to serve the Lord? It means to serve His people.
Second, to love others means to sacrifice. First John 3:17 asks, "If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"
Service has limitations. Sacrifice has no reservations. Here is a core truth of the Christian faith: You are to lay down your life for the people of God as a demonstration that you understand what Christ has done for you.
Paul says, "I will gladly spend and be spent for your sake. I'll do anything for you (2 Cor. 12:15)." Because Christ did not withhold anything from me.
Third, true love forgives. Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind to one another, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you."
It's ironic that the God we claim to worship has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103). And yet some of us have a very detailed ledger of every sin ever committed against us.
Love keeps no record of wrong. None. Not some record. No record of wrong.
Fourth, love is patient. The cross demonstrates the patience of God.
Jesus says we are to love others like He has loved us. He serves, sacrifices, forgives, and is patient - can that be said of you?
1. How has Jesus loved you? Have you really thought about it—service, sacrifice, forgiveness, patience?
2. Are you serving the people of God, or just saying you love them?
3. Do you have a detailed ledger of wrongs against you, or have you forgiven as Christ forgave you?
Stay dialed in
