Love Thursday

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Wow, that's a tall order to fill, isn't it?

Jesus has just washed the feet of his disciples. Over the next few hours, Judas will betray him with a kiss, Peter will deny him three times, and the other 10 disciples will forsake and leave him when he faces his death.

Yet he still washed their feet knowing they would do this. . . (Looking forward we will also do this as well).

He still goes to the cross for them while knowing they will abandon him. I'm not sure that I can love like that ... yet.

However, with the Holy Spirit's help, I will make a renewed commitment to love others who have hurt and disappointed me. I will also seek to mend relationships where I have hurt and disappointed others.

Faithful Father, thank you for your never-ending love. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and pour love into my heart so I can love others as Jesus has loved me. I need your help to love those who have disappointed and hurt me. O God, I don't want my bitterness or resentment to keep someone from serving you and knowing Jesus' grace. In the name of my loving Savior I pray. Amen.

WB “Heartlight” Journal
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Fredrikson:

"The distinguishing mark of discipleship is not programs and signs, wonders or eloquence or ecclesiastical power, but Christ's love in us that allows us to love one another."

John Calvin Abridged:

“Christ calls this a new commandment because new commandments are easily remembered for their novelty. So Christ was asking his disciples to remember the command to love as if it were newly made."

"We may not be able to fully love as Christ loved, but we ought to still aim at this great goal of loving as He did. Whoever wants to be a disciple and to be acknowledged such by God let them pursue love of other believers with great diligence”.