Let us love

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:34-35

Love – the greatest commandment. When you think of love what do you think of? The Hallmark Channel? Puppies? Your family and friends? I bet you don’t think of that person who cut you off in traffic or that person who broke your heart. But that is exactly who we are called to love – everyone – regardless of who they are and what they did to you. Love God, love others that is what we are called to do. Do you know how hard that is? My brothers used to snap my Barbies heads off right in front of me and I still had to love them, no matter how much I wanted to shove their baseball cards and Thundercat action figures in the toilet. But that wouldn’t be very loving, would it? So, I told my mom what they did instead and laughed when they got in trouble. But that’s not how the real world operates. People will come into our lives betray us and hurt us. It’s all part of living in a broken world – we are all broken and the only way we can become whole is to put our faith in Jesus and see people the way He does.

So, what does it look like to love others? Paul tells us in Romans that we are to “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies, no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.” (Romans 12:9-16, MSG). When Jesus came into the world, he came to serve others. He lived among the “nobodies” and showed compassion to all who crossed his path. He looked out for the interest of others and bridged the gaps. He never wrote off the people who wronged Him, but forgave and was reconciled to them – even one of his very close friends denied him three times and what did Jesus do? He called him to breakfast and forgave him. That’s what love is. It is actively pursuing the people around you - it’s showing up and looking out for the interest of others.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:1-4, MSG).

Love is serving and opening the door for others. It is being present where God has placed you for His specific purposes – to encourage and build up the saints. Look around you. Where has God placed you today? Who has He put in your path? Make a list of people you can encourage this week.