Love One Another As I Have Loved You!

"I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples." (1)

In Christ's life, He teaches us how to love others, even our enemies. He says, "You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." (2) Here he tells us how to love our neighbor and our enemies, "As I have loved you, so you are to love one another." (1)

Loving others as Christ has loved us is what separates His disciples from the rest of the world. His love separates us from hating our brother and even our enemies. His love separates us from anger, fear, harmful behaviors and addictions. His love separates us from selfish ambitions, dissensions and jealousies. His love separates us from violence, violence in the family, and in the place of harmful emotions and behaviors, we have peace and acceptance and love.

His love separates us from sin! "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood." (3) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (4) This is precisely what Jesus has done for us.

How great is God's love for us? "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (5)

God loves you my friend! "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord." (6) "I have loved you with an everlasting love; - with lovingkindness I have drawn you." (7)

Jesus loves us with an everlasting love, and with Him, we will learn how to love others as He has loved us.

1. John 13:34, 35, NEB.
2. Matthew 5:43-45.
3. Revelation 1:5.
4. John 15:13.
5. John 3:16, 17.
6. Jeremiah 29:11-14.
7. Jeremiah 31:3.