Love As Jesus Loved

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[Jesus said,] “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35

One day a boy was given a 12-inch board. His father told him to use the board as a template to mark and cut more lumber into 12-inch pieces. The boy used the original board to measure and cut the second board. But instead of using the original board to cut the remaining boards, he used the board he’d just cut. As he worked, he continued using the most recently cut board to measure each new board and cut the pile of lumber. When his father took the board the boy had cut last and measured it with the first, there was an inch difference! The man told his son that when sawing, you should always measure with the original piece of wood or with the same ruler. That was the only way to be sure all the pieces would be the same size as the original.

Jesus gave his disciples a command. They were to love each other. It would be a sign to the world that they were Christians. Jesus told them not to just love each other but to love each other the same way he loved them. The disciples could measure their love for each other according to the way Jesus loved them.

Jesus’ love was unconditional. He didn’t love his disciples less if they made mistakes. He didn’t love them according to how much they loved him. He didn’t base his love on how well they served him. He loved them no matter what. His love was perfect.

Jesus understands that you can’t love others with a perfect love like his, but he wants you to love them through his strength. He wants you to model your love for other Christians after his love. Some people are harder to love than others. You may not feel warm and fuzzy toward them, but you can still have Jesus’ love for them.

Jesus told his disciples that their love for one another would show the world they were his followers. What does your love for other Christians show the world?

Ask God to give you his love for other Christians, even those who are hard to love. How will this change the way you act toward them?