Today’s Scripture:
John 15:12-13 NIV
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Jesus gave us a command, and that command is to love. Therefore, love is not optional; love is not conditional; love is not based on feelings; love is a command. The Bible says, my command, who's command? Jesus commands us to love each other. We usually see when it comes to love that we love those who love us back, those who look like us, those who are in our circle, and those we think we can get something from.
But this is not love. Jesus says my command is to love each other; there are no conditions given; he simply says to love. For most of us, it's hard to love because our experiences in life have conditioned us. So, if we were hurt when we were growing up and if we felt unloved, unwanted, and uncared for, we grow up not knowing what love is and not giving love to others or even end up not knowing how to receive love.
Love is patient and kind; it doesn't boast; it does not mean evil or wrong; it doesn't envy; it's not proud; it doesn't dishonor others; it's not self-seeking; it's not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongdoing. That means love forgives, shares, cares, and is selfless. If we are to live as people who obey the command of Jesus to love each other, we will need to check our egos at the door, we will need to know that it's not all about us, and we will know that we must seek the best interest of others over our own.
Jesus said today that this is love, that a man would lay down his life for his friend. In essence, Jesus did this for us; he called us friends and gave his life for us, or we could say he gave his love for us. Can you think of a way that you can show love to others today? This command is one that we must all live out of what we see to be true disciples of Christ. Let go of the pain of your past, the hurt, the hate, and forgive others and yourself so that you can experience love and love for others Christ has loved you.
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