John 13:34-35 New King James Version (NKJV) “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” When Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you; that you also love one another,” take note, this is not a request, suggestion or recommendation, it is a commandment! There is no way around this command to love but to love one another in the same way that Jesus loves us. Jesus summarizes by saying “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,” meaning the proof that we are his disciples is the type of love we have, Christ’s love. Jesus’ commandment to love one another as He loves us is very challenging. Sometimes people are not very lovable, they do or say outrageous and malicious things. Do you realize that you are normally hurt the most by the people you love so much? How then are you supposed to forgive and continue to love them? How do you move on? How do you forgive your enemies and pray for them rather than seeking revenge or harboring anger? Is your love turned off and on by fleeting passions or emotional highs? Are you selective in who, where, when and how you love others? In order to obey this commandment, you must practice to love others indiscriminately and unconditionally. The Bible states that your ability to love comes from your relationship with Jesus Christ. “We love him, because he first loved us”, says the Apostle John (1 John 4:19). You are able to love because Christ loves you. Understanding this is critical to your ability to live out the Christian life of love. The more the love of Jesus fills your life, the more you will be able to love others with the same kind of love that he shows to us. God can help us love when we ask Him to enable us to see past people’s mistakes, attitudes or behaviors, to see people as God sees them. He can make it much easier for us to love people through our prayers, actions, and words. Are you showing love to others? Are you at the point where you can pray for people who hurt you, people who have been judged or shunned? Remember, you are to love all the people God puts in your family, your neighborhood, your church, your workplace, and your life. In this Month of Love, I prophesy that the Lord will open your eyes to see people as He does. Receive Christ's self-sacrificial love that is genuine, honest, caring and compassionate so that you may share it with others. May you grow in the love of Christ and impact people today and the days ahead! Grace in Motion,Apostle David Owusu
