Jesus is Essential
John 15:12–13: This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Remember He is talking to believers in this discourse. We are to love each other as He has loved us! It is sad to see Christians in our churches who tear down each other and gossip about one another. The Spirit of God is not working in such a situation. One can have Bible teaching and still reject this commandment of our Lord. To love as He has loved us is putting it on a very high plane. Only the Spirit of God can produce such love in our lives. 1
Walking with Jesus
Why is it so hard to love others who have been intentionally unloving to you? How do you even know how to love such a person? Perhaps a good and safe place to start is with prayer. Whenever the thoughts of that person comes to your mind, instead of getting angry, and mad, and bitter, and revengeful, ask God to forgive you.
Ask God to heal your hurting heart. Ask God to release you from the emotional grip that person has upon you. Ask God to reveal Himself to them. Ask God to save them. Ask God’s blessing upon them. Remember, the prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much. Be that righteous person from this day forward.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2
To love without conditions or expectations is impossible without Him.
Praying
Lord, thank You for challenging me today to love others through prayer.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21) (electronic ed., Vol. 39). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
