Love One Another
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
Insight
With these words, Jesus unveiled the mark by which his followers would be known - a radical, sacrificial love for one another. It would not be their knowledge, their morality, or their works that would set them apart. No, they would be identified by their genuine, others-oriented care and compassion. This is the way of Jesus.
Love is not merely an emotion or feeling. It is an action - a willingness to give ourselves away for the good of another. When we love, we put the needs of others before our own. We consider their perspective, feel their hurts, and look for ways to tangibly support them, even at great personal cost.
We do this because Jesus loved us first. Though he was one with God, he did not cling to his rights or status. He laid aside the privileges of heaven to enter our broken world. He didn't just bring wise teachings or miracles - he gave his very life so that we could experience forgiveness and healing.
To follow in his footsteps, the church must be a countercultural community marked by this same self-sacrificing love. When we love one another well, it points to the greater reality of God's love. Our unity and care become a window through which the world sees the goodness and grace of our heavenly Father.
Redemptive love is not superficial - it comes from mutual concern and covenant commitment. When one member suffers, we all suffer alongside them. When one is honored, we all rejoice together. We spur one another on, bear each other's burdens, and remind one another of the truth.
This kind of deep relationship is the seedbed where life change happens. We experience the healing and transformation of God's love tangibly through one another. Lives are mended, hope is restored, and people powerfully encounter the reality of Christ.
But love like this is costly. It requires vulnerability, sacrifice, and perseverance. We must choose to love, even when it's hard, messy, and inconvenient. For it is in the crucible of relationships that our character is refined, our faith strengthened, and the love of God made visible to those around us.
So may we be known by our love - a love that gives itself away, points to Jesus, and compels the world to see the beauty of the gospel lived out. This is the highest calling and truest mark of being Christ's disciples.
Reflection
What do your relationships communicate to the world around you? Are there ways that you are demonstrating Christ’s love in the way you care for others? Where is there room for growth?
What are some relationships in your life that need more selfless, others-oriented love from you?
Further Practice
If you are interested in furthering today’s practice, extend an act of service or sacrifice for someone you're close with - do a chore, help with a task, or give up something you enjoy to bless them.
Prayer
Lord, fill us with your sacrificial, self-giving love. May we love one another so completely that the world takes notice and encounters you through our relationships. Make us a community marked by unity, vulnerability, and commitment to one another's well-being. Amen.