Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Love One Another

Reading: John 13:34-35

Key Verse: “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” v.34

Today’s key verse is one of the most well known of all the “one another’s” in the New Testament. Notice that it is not a suggestion from Jesus; it is a commandment.  Of course we live under grace and not rules and regulations.  Nevertheless Jesus gives us instructions for healthy lifestyles which we need to turn into applications of personal involvement.  We are not meant to simply tolerate or even like each other but to love one another.

What is this love like? It is the same quality of love that Jesus has for us – “as I have loved you”.  How has He loved us?  I would suggest at least four different qualities within Jesus love.  Firstly it is a sacrificial love – “greater love has no-one than this, that one lays down his life for his friends”. Secondly it was an undeserved love like the Good Samaritan because it was for strangers and even His enemies (Luke 10:25-37, Rom 5:8). Thirdly it was a permanent love that did not waver over time or circumstance.

Finally it was an initiatory love. “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In other words, it’s up to us to make the first move!

Prayer: Lord give me boldness to make the first move to others in offering my welcome, my hand, a coffee, Your love