Changed by His Love
1 John 3:11: For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
John often speaks in this epistle about “the beginning.” The beginning he is talking about is the incarnation of Christ. “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” John is merely reaffirming here what the Lord Jesus had taught. This love is to be the mark of Christ’s disciples. John says, “What I am telling you is not new. You have heard this from the beginning. The Lord Jesus taught it to us, and all the apostles have taught this. We have heard from the beginning that we should love one another.” Love of other believers is something that is woefully lacking today in many places.1 1
Loving Him
It is easy to love others when everything is going your way. But when it is time to be patience and enduring; and when you are disappointed and suffer because of the disobedience of others, then how well are you able to love? A personal question that we should ask ourselves often is this: How much of my love towards others is based upon a conditional response of love towards me? When was the last time you showed unconditional love to someone that did not deserve it? It is easy to say “I love you.” It is difficult to show “I love you.”
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34–35
Loving Others
Once you learn how to surrender and submit to God, you will dramatically improve your demonstration of love towards others.
Make Me Like You
Lord, thank You for showing me the power of Your unconditional love everyday.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (1 John) (electronic ed., Vol. 56). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
