Wednesday, January 25, 2017

What did he mean love one another?

What did Jesus mean, love one another?
In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples with this request.  
"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 you are my disciples."  ~John 13:34-35

So what did he mean?  He wanted them to model his reflection and then the world would know that the power of God was among them.  But, that is not all, what was that thing he said, " a new commandment..."  
Here we have God himself, as the new covenant in Jesus Christ, telling us we now have a new commandment; to love one another.  So if this is a new commandment and we don't follow it, we are sinning.  Yes, it is a sin not to love one another. Let that sink in.  
Let's take this a little farther...
In 1 John, he expounds on what it will look like when you love one another in comparison to loving the world.
Do not love the world or the things it offers you, for when you love this world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ~1 John 2:15 
So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 
~1 John 3:13
We know that we are the children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one. ~1 John 5:19
And then in Matthew, he tells how Jesus teaches to deal with the world.
"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven." 
~Matthew 5:44-45

To love one another means love your enemy as well as your friend. 
Jesus speaking:
"I say, love your enemies!  Do good to those who hate you." ~Luke 6:27
I have never seen a time in my life that this applies to more now than ever.  
The world around us is under control of the evil one.  There are forces at work here you cannot see, but when someone opens their mouth and spits at you it is not of God.  Start discerning what is really going on here.  These people are "under the influence."
Jesus said,"Father forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." 
~Luke 23:34
They really don't know, the devil keeps the truth hidden from them.
Paul explains:
If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. ~2 Corinthians 4:3
They (the world) don't understand this message about the glory of Christ. 
You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves.  We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our heart so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. ~2 Corinthians 4:4-6

Be that light in the darkness.

All glory and honor to my Lord Jesus Christ,
Sherry

I will be linking up with these parties:
Mommy Moments at Life of Faith- Sun evening
Moments of Hope at Lori Schumaker
Monday's Musings at What Joy is Mine
Coffee and Conversation at Pat and Candy.com
Tell Us His Story at Jennifer Dukes Lee
Grace Moments at Journeys in Grace
Thought Provoking Thursdays at 3-D Lessons for Life
Grace and Truth at Above the Waves
Fresh Market Friday Crystal Twaddell

5 Minute Friday at Saraf E. Frazer
TGI Saturdays at Ask Latisha

10 comments:

martinealison said...

Bonjour chère amie,

Il est bon de vous lire et de se remémorer ces bonnes paroles...
Merci pour ce petit billet.

Bisous 🌺

janice15 said...

My dear this was wonderful... all so identifying... I so enjoyed reading through thank you also fo putting the scriptures.. Lovely post. God bless you with love Janice

Veronica said...

Sherry, to this post I say "Amen and Amen"...thanks for speaking the TRUTH of God's Word, we all need it and for those of us that know Christ as our personal Savior, we need to be reminded of what our character should be! Oh! And I love the Blue Willow Teapot and cups and saucers...I collect Blue Willow and looking for another teapot, one day i just know i will find it in the Thrift shops and garage / estate sales I LOVE to visit! have a blessed day!

While I Linger said...

Amen and amen! What a timely piece and what a great God to have given us everything we need for times such as these. Thank you for speaking truth.

Daniela said...

My Dearest,
thanks most sincerely for such an inspiring, wonderful post, you've truly filled my heart with Joy, blessed be !

Hope you're having the best of weeks,
I'm sending my dearest love to you

XO Dany

Pam Richardson said...

Sherry, what a beautiful post...God's Word is true and He is the Light in the darkness...I pray that I would shine in the darkness with His glorious truth and love!

arkie said...

I appreciate your lovely posts! Shine on!

Anonymous said...

I am learning to love those I never wanted to love nor felt I could. Yet Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and each other. I want to because I want to be His light in this dark, dark world. Seems darker every day! I want to see my way down the path God has planned for me and the light of Jesus may be the only Light I have. Thank you for these fine words.

Unknown said...

I love the verses in Psalm 139 that reminds us that we were seen even before we were born, that He knew our end from our beginning, and we were formed in the secret place. (vs.15-16) :) Being squeezed by His grace is a constant reminder of both His love and His purpose to form us and mold us by His ever loving hand.
Blessings!
Dawn

Aimee said...

I just did a video lesson on this topic with my oldest daughter this afternoon. It's for our online course "Cultivating The Heart of a Daughter". We spoke of much of the same as you did here. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.