Love

Love

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:12-17, NIV

How do we understand love, and how do we measure it? With five words: “as I have loved you.” Jesus left both a standard and a personal example for us to follow. He doesn’t ask us to do anything he hasn’t already done.

First, he laid down his life for us (15:13). In order for me to love, I may need to forfeit something valuable to me for the sake of another person. This may involve giving up some of my desires or expectations, or experiencing a greater or lesser degree of inconvenience.

Second, Jesus contrasted servants and friends to teach us that he not only treats us kindly, but he also shares his very thoughts with us (15:15). He has chosen to commune with us and be close to us. This must have been very difficult for him to do with his disciples when he knew that some would doubt him, betray him, deny him, or run away from him. His example inspires us to continue to commune with a husband who disappointed us or a child who disobeyed us.

Third, Jesus took initiative and action with his disciples. He did not sit back and wait for them to come to him, but he reached out to them (15:16). Our families will remember us most for how we cared and reached out to them.

How we follow Christ’s example needs to be thought through with integrity and honesty, asking God for his wisdom, strength, and grace. Because when we choose to love, the world sees that we are God’s disciples.

Father,

Thank you that you love us perfectly. Please forgive us for the lack of love we sometimes have for others. We need the warmth of your love in hearts that would be cold without you. Amen.