08/20/2026
On the night Jesus was arrested, he shared a meal with the 12 disciples. As he was finishing his last encouraging words to them, after telling them he would not be with them much longer, he gave them this commandment. He said “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. In the beauty of our Lord and Savior, he even tells us why. Verse 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. There is an old hymn that says, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love.” Christ does not tell us to love as “we” love. As we have been loved by “others” in this world. But as HE has loved. Note to anyone who has difficulty here….you can love and not like at the same time. Because the love that we love, as he loves, comes from love Himself. I can’t talk about the subject of love without defining it as God does, who Himself is love.
1 Corth 13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails.
Let’s stop loving as the world and love like Jesus!