No.251 - Love One Another

The Love of God’s Children

Love One Another

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Starting Prayer

Lord, grant me wisdom and understanding as I reflect on Your Word today. Help me to comprehend the depth of Your commandment to love one another as You have loved us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Background

In John 13, Jesus is sharing His last supper with His disciples before His crucifixion. In this poignant moment, He gives them a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved them. Jesus sets the standard of love by His own sacrificial example, laying down His life for the sake of others. These verses emphasize that love is the identifying mark of Christ's disciples and the essence of true Christianity.

Be Encouraged

Jesus' commandment to love one another challenges us to demonstrate selfless, sacrificial love in our lives. It's easy to love those who love us back or who are easy to love, but Jesus calls us to love even those who may be difficult or different from us. This kind of love, rooted in Christ's example, is what truly distinguishes us as His disciples. When we show love to others, especially to those who are hard to love, we reflect the character of Christ and draw others to Him.

Practically, this means showing kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to everyone we encounter, regardless of their background or circumstances. It means putting others' needs before our own and extending grace even when it's undeserved. By living out this love, we become beacons of light in a world that desperately needs to experience the transformative power of Christ's love.

Additional Verses

- 1 John 4:11: "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

- 1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

Invitation

I invite you to embrace the commandment of Jesus to love one another, a hallmark of genuine discipleship. If you have not yet committed your life to Christ, He invites you today to do so through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). We can experience the fullness of God's love and share it with others. Join us in worship at a nearby Church of Christ, where you can grow in love and fellowship with fellow believers.

Concluding Prayer

Lord, thank You for the commandment to love one another. Help me to live out this love daily, reflecting Your love to the world around me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

May the Lord bless your day.

Theodore J. Quist

Evangelist

Church of Christ

Abokobi - Accra

Ghana

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