Love One Another

John 13: 1-3, 12-17, 34-35 

What does it REALLY mean to Love one Another?

Before Jesus was betrayed and taken away he confided in is disciples; "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." I believe this means if we are true Christ followers, we must look and act differently , so that all men will know........

Is it possible to REALLY love everyone?

Jesus did, and his new command was just that. We may think, but He is God, and I am a mere human, weak and dependent on the Lord. I cannot possibly love as He loves. We may have to dig REALLY deep, but "With God, all things are possible." This message to us can be found in the books of both Luke and Matthew. 

Must I REALLY love those who make my life miserable?

There is no one who makes your life miserable but you.  Holding tightly to His word and offering your heart to Christ each and every day will offer you his peace despite worldly challenges. Each life on this earth was created by God. Loving others does not mean agreeing with their ways. It is a different kind of love. It takes an open heart and a willingness to empathize, which has nothing to do with justifying or agreeing with the actions of others.

Empathy: the ability to identify with and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties

We cannot possibly know what makes each individual behave as he does unless we are inside of their heads and hearts and have experienced the life they have lived. We can however, trust God when he tells us to have faith and to love. This command contains no qualifiers. It simply says "To Love."

John 13;“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 13:34b-35