Love One Another

The commandment of God that His people are to love one another is not new. The “newness” of this command is the standard by which God’s people are to love one another. We are to love in the same fashion as Jesus. But how did Jesus love His disciples? 

First, Jesus spent time with the disciples. When He appointed the twelve disciples it says in Mark 2:14-15 that He did so “that they might be with him.”  Jesus did not just call them into ministry, but He wanted them to be with Him, to watch what He did, to listen to what He said, and to enjoy His company. 

Secondly, Jesus loved them with great patience. The disciples were not prepared for leadership, but Jesus committed to helping them grow spiritually, and He did not allow their immaturity to undermine His determination to love them well. His love for them was incredibly patient. 

 
Jesus also loved through His unwavering commitment to the disciples. Although not one of the twelve was ready or prepared for leadership when Jesus called them, He was committed to helping them grow up spiritually. Jesus persevered through their faults and failures which never lessened His affection. 

Finally, Jesus loved His own by teaching them the truth, even when it might be offensive or hard to grasp. He never hid things from them but clearly instructed them on what being His followers entailed: persecution, slander, imprisonment, rejection, perhaps even martyrdom. 

If we are to love one another as Jesus loved, then we need to deeply invest in those around us- giving of our time, filled with patience and enduring affection, and teaching His truths. 

(Sam Storms, “What’s New about the New Commandment”) 

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Jesus, show me how to love like You. Quiet my heart and open my eyes to whom I should invest in with my time. Fill me with patience and enduring affection so I can love others well.  Enable me to be deeply committed to how You might use me in the lives of others. Amen.