Discover His heart: He commands us to love others in the same way He loves us
Love makes the world go round…love is a many splendored thing…love will keep us together…he loves me, he loves me not. There are thousands of songs and sayings on the subject of love. Nothing makes us feel more content and happy than when we feel loved. It’s no wonder that John would once again tackle the subject in I John, but he wrote not so much about feeling love, but instead about showing love.
@ I John 2
“Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new.” (2:7-8) This commandment actually came from Jesus while He was still on earth, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (Luke 13:34) It wasn’t a suggestion from the Lord or something to be considered. No, it was a commandment.
Many of our acquaintances are just so easy to love. They’re kind, generous, funny or just plain lovable, and a commandment to love really isn’t necessary. But there always are a few individuals that seem to go out of their way to be unlovable, and they are the ones that may require a commandment in order to be loved. “If anyone claims, ‘I am living in the light,’ but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness.” (9-11)
I really don’t see any loopholes here, and believe me, I’ve looked. We may not like the things that the unlovables do, but we should love them just the same. Think of the most unlovable soul in your fellowship in light of this truth: the righteous, pure and holy God of heaven loves that soul enough to die for him or her. Who am I that I would refuse to love? Time and time again I’ve asked God to fill me with love for the unlovable souls who have passed through my life, and the process so often begins with forgiveness. God has been faithful to help me in this because that’s who He is – God is love.
Moving Forward: Through His grace and goodness, I will love the unlovable today, and I pray they will love me.
Tomorrow @ Deuteronomy 20-22
Phyllis Benigas 