Love One Another
Love One Another
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 Jesus is speaking here and makes this pretty clear. He said it twice, just in case we needed to hear it again. He doesn’t give us any exceptions to this commandment. It is simple. Love one another. Why? Well keep reading.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”,John 13:35. In the notes of my study Bible it explains this scripture this way. “Unbelievers recognize Jesus’ disciples not by their doctrinal distinctives, nor by dramatic miracles, nor even by their love for the lost. They recognize His disciples by their deeds of love for one another.” If we love God, what are we to do? Love one another.
The Bible also tells us in I John 4:7-8, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Good stuff! I John 4:19-20, “We love Him because He first loved us.” That part is easy. We do not have any problem expressing our love for God. But He did not stop there, He continued. “If someone says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar for if he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” If we love God, what are we to do? Love one another.
If we are a Christ follower, we have an incredible opportunity to show everyone around us what real love looks like. We can look deep within our hearts and see what lies there. Are we filled with love? Jesus tells us we have 2 great commandments. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”So what are we to do? Love God and love one another.
What does it look like to love one another? Check out this description of agape love, again taken from my study Bible. The Bible, God’s word, it is where all the answers lie.
“This word, agape, describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against natural human inclination. It is a giving, selfless, expect nothing in return kind of love. Paul’s description of love is short but full of power.
Love suffers for a long time. Our modern “throw away” society encourages us to get rid of people in our lives who are difficult to get along with, whether they are friends, family or acquaintances. Yet this attitude runs in complete contrast to the love described by Paul. True love puts up with people who would be easier to give up on.
Love does not envy. If our love is directed toward others, we will rejoice in the blessing they receive rather than desiring those blessings for ourselves. Fundamentally, the selfless love that God calls us to does not involve pride or glory. It does not parade itself and is not puffed up. In fact, true love does not seek its own. If we truly love others, we will set aside our own plans, agendas, and entitlements for the good of another.
Love is not provoked. That is, love is not easily angered or over-sensitive. When we truly love others, we are careful not to be touchy concerning other people’s words or actions towards us.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The godly love described in this chapter has nothing to do with evil, but has everything to do with what is right and true. It believes all things and hopes all things. This does not mean that love is blind or naïve. When we love, we may recognize problems and failures in people, but we do not lose faith in the possibilities of what people might become. Love never gives up, knowing that God can change lives for the better.
Finally, love endures all things. Love accepts any hardship or rejection, and continues unabated to build up and encourage. The love described by Paul in this “love chapter” means determining what is best for another person and doing it. This is the kind of love that God shows to us.”
This is who God is.
This is how He loves.
This is how we are commanded to love others, if we love God.
We are to love one another.