“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35
The word “love” is so easily used in our world today. People speak of loving their job, a certain food, or even their home or car. But as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the word “love” has a far greater meaning. When Jesus was here on earth, He showed love to all with whom He came in contact,
One of the ways that we can praise and bless the Lord is to emulate His love in every aspect of our lives. Jesus taught that we would show our love for Him by manifesting His love to others.
Paul gives us a definition of love in I Corinthians 13:
- Love suffers long and is kind.
- Love envies not and is not puffed up.
- Love does not behave unseemly.
- Love does not seek its own way.
- Love is not easily provoked and thinks no evil.
- Love rejoices in truth and not iniquity.
- Love, bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.
- Love never fails.
That is a very impressive list and a high standard for each of us to live up to. But it is a goal that is worth striving for. Perhaps Paul had this in mind when he wrote the words in Philippians 3:12-14
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Thought For Today: God is blessed when we praise Him, not only from our lips but by the love that we show forth to others.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
