The New Commandment
We know the 10 Commandments, and the Great Commandment, but do we know the New Commandment? We may know it, but do we keep it? Jesus was very specific to His disciples, when He gave them this new commandment. (John 13:34,35) It is a command for all of us all of the time. Let's remember what He said, and then, we can see how we are doing.
Jesus commanded His disciples, all of us, to love one another. Now, that was not the new part, though. He also added what the quality of our love for each other must be. We are to love one another, as Christ has loved us. That is the new part. We do not get to choose how we love our Christian brothers and sisters. We love them with the unconditional love of Christ, the type of love that was willing to lay down His life for others. Therefore, the New Commandment is for all believers to so love one another that we do not consider our needs first, but we put the needs of others first, even to the point of laying down our lives for them.
Then, Jesus topped it off by saying that this type of love for others will be how others know we are a believer. In fact, without it, we are just like everyone else in this world. However, if we are born again by the power of the Spirit, we have His love inside of us, and He empowers us to love as He does. The only thing that hinders us from doing that is ourselves. We have to obey this new commandment by deciding we will love our brothers and sisters in Christ like Jesus does. Then, He will give us the grace and strength to do just that, as all around us marvel at His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 14-17.
Jesus commanded His disciples, all of us, to love one another. Now, that was not the new part, though. He also added what the quality of our love for each other must be. We are to love one another, as Christ has loved us. That is the new part. We do not get to choose how we love our Christian brothers and sisters. We love them with the unconditional love of Christ, the type of love that was willing to lay down His life for others. Therefore, the New Commandment is for all believers to so love one another that we do not consider our needs first, but we put the needs of others first, even to the point of laying down our lives for them.
Then, Jesus topped it off by saying that this type of love for others will be how others know we are a believer. In fact, without it, we are just like everyone else in this world. However, if we are born again by the power of the Spirit, we have His love inside of us, and He empowers us to love as He does. The only thing that hinders us from doing that is ourselves. We have to obey this new commandment by deciding we will love our brothers and sisters in Christ like Jesus does. Then, He will give us the grace and strength to do just that, as all around us marvel at His love.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 14-17.