"Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had right from the beginning. This commandment - to love one another - is the same message that you heard before. Yet, it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining. If anyone says, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is living in darkness. Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble. Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living and walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, having been blinded by darkness." 1 John 2:7-11
Everyone is familiar with the Ten Commandments, even if they aren't intimately familiar with the Bible itself. In fact, one could argue that the Ten Commandments are the most widely known biblical directives in the world today. I feel they persevere because they command us to either do or not do certain things and this interests us because our world is full of rules and regulations. The unfortunate part of how the Ten Commandments are perceived is that they are seen as just as ordinary standards on an even plain with speed limits or stop lights/signs...and we all know how much respect those items receive. But the Ten Commandments are more that just ordinary rules. God gave them to the Israelites and now to us to tell us how He wants us to live. And His requirements far exceed any that the world can create...you can trust in that.
When Jesus came to earth to walk amongst us, He brought some new commandments to the people. Whether Jew or Gentile, the commands were equally applicable. One such command came as Jesus is talking with His disciples and warning them of His pending departure from the world. He said, "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:33-35)
Jesus's disciples were probably expecting another "thou shall" or "though shall not" fro Jesus but instead got a command that was central to what Jesus was about. If you don't know anything else about Jesus, know that He is the ultimate standard for love. We know love because He first loved us. John says in today's passage that "this commandment is true in Christ"...true because He loved all mankind enough to allow His own sacrifice on the cross. He died so that you, I, and everyone else could live. The Gospel of John defines the strength of Jesus's sacrifice by saying, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (John 15:12-14)
One other thing about living with an attitude of Christ-like love within: it leads us to living a life of light. The opposite of love is hate and that only exists in the darkness. No one who hates another is in partnership with Jesus for He is love and no hate exists within Him execpt for a hatred of sin.
Question: How well do you love others? Is it an unconditional, willing to lay down your life for another love? Or is it just a transparent love that is shallow and lacks substance?
The bottom line on love is this: partner with Jesus every day and love will become the biggest part of who you are. You will have a healthy heart that respects and values others, even those who might be your enemies. Jesus never put qualifiers in front of those who need loved (that's all of us). He simply said, "Love One Another". Have you told someone you love them today? Have you shown love to another? Make it a part of who you are and enjoy the joy of living in Christ and the light.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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