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Love One Another

by Roland Crim
03/09/21
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Did you know that the command to love one another appears 5 times just within the 3 chapters of John 13 through 15. (twice in John 13:34, John 13:35, John 15:12 and John 15:17). Do you think Jesus was trying to make it abundantly clear that it is what we are asked to do, no, commanded to do so.

 How often in His actions and words did Jesus speak of love? The word love appears over 50 times in the Gospel of John.

 Why did Jesus speak about love so much? Do you think He may have wanted us to realize that there is so much power within love?

 I know this sounds idealistic, but what would our world be like if there were no hate, if we really would love everyone as we love ourselves. Of course, this does have to assume that we do love ourselves. How many of the problems that we face as inhabitants of this earth would be either totally or mostly eliminated if we would love everyone?

 How sad to think of all the destruction and such which is caused by hate.

 I am not suggesting that we love wrongful actions. God has told us what is right and wrong, and we will all give an accountability, but that does not mean that we should stop loving.

 You might say “How can I love someone who hates me, persecutes me…..? It takes much to do so, but it can be done if Christ lives within you.

 A couple of things which I could almost guarantee would happen if you chose to love as Christ commands. First, I believe you would feel less stress…not carrying around bitterness, hatred, and other unloving feelings within you. Yes, your health quite probably would be better.

 You would also feel a power within you. Love brings power. Hatred brings destruction.

 Have you ever let go of a long held resentment against someone and forgave them? If you did not feel much better after you did so, then I would wonder if you did truly forgive them.

 I could write more here on the matter, but I believe this is enough to at least provide food for thought.

 God wants us to love, not hate. I am talking about people and not necessarily their actions or life styles. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says to us “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

 As I said, Christ spoke much about love and was the perfect reflection of love. Are we not to do the same?