Love One Another


I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
(John 13:34-35)


Meditation

I was sitting in a small arena, listening to an evangelist I didn’t want to be listening to, thinking what a bunch of suckers these people were for believing in this myth. Then the Holy Spirit spoke right to my heart through the words of that evangelist. I tried to resist, but the tears of thousands of regrets started flowing down my cheeks. Jesus came into my heart that night and kicked out all the hatred, selfishness, and pain. He replaced it with love and compassion for literally everyone, whether I knew them or not. It was the biggest change that most people couldn’t see of anything else that happened to me that night. Love, by far, is the greatest gift I was given, second only to my salvation.
I didn’t even like many other people, let alone love them. I had been hurt several times in the past and so I hardly trusted anyone. It got to the point, I wouldn’t let them get too close. I was trying to protect myself. I suppose that’s the reason I have two failed marriages in my past. Jesus changed everything about me. I went from an introverted, pain filled, lonely person, to a happy and outgoing follower of Jesus Christ. Before I was saved, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’d been to church as an adult. Now, every time the doors are opened, I’m there. I’m not just there to fill my own spiritual needs, I try to help others by teaching when I’m asked.
As I look at the Church today, I don’t see a lot of love between the various denominations and factions. They act more like business competitors and enemies than partners in the work of spreading the gospel. It’s one reason why so many people reject the message of the cross. They don’t see a united front in the battle against evil. They see a bunch of hypocrites who don’t know any more about love than they do. It’s time for all of the bickering and infighting to end. The Church does NOT belong to us. It belongs to Jesus Christ. If we’re still acting like petulant children when he returns, there’s going to be a lot of sad church goers left behind. Don’t be left behind. Get your act together and show the unbelievers around you, that you know what real love is. Not because your life experiences have taught you, but because Jesus taught you.




Prayer Time

Heavenly Father, you are the characterization and embodiment of love. Your love for us is unconditional and we praise you every day. Out of your love came your plan for our salvation, established at the foundation of time. Thank you for giving your Son, Jesus. He became the personification of love, to teach us how to love you and each other. Remind us that if we say we love Jesus, we must love one another. Otherwise, we are only lying to ourselves. Please convince us if we don’t love our fellow believers, how can we persuade unbelievers we love them? How will we show them your love? Please, Lord, give us a heart like Jesus. Make us over to love like he does and be a beacon to everyone who doesn’t know Jesus yet. Give us a passion and zeal for sharing the gospel. Never let us forget this commandment, and let it become our battle cry. Remind us that the spiritual warfare going on all around us will only be won with love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
Location: San Antonio, FL, USA

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