Love each other

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13.34-35

The Law was full of rules and commandments. Tucked away in there were the words that we ought to love God and love others. The legalistic Jews though chose to stress the do thises and the don’t do that’s.

Several times in His ministry Jesus shows them a new focus. He tells them the answer is pretty basic – love each other. His standard His high though because He says that the standard was that they, and we, are to love each other the same way that He loves.

In fact, this is so important that Jesus says that this is the test of whether or not we are His disciples. It is the test by which people are going to know the reality of our faith. Do we love each other? Do people know that we love each other? Are people drawn to Jesus by the way we love each other?

And yet how often do we as believers manifest fightings and divisions and bightings and devourings among beleivers? We seem to find the smallest and silliest things to divide over. The world watches us fight over music choices and worship styles and how we dress for church and issues like that and now we do it right out in the open on social media.

I’m not saying that we ought to compromise on essentials, but surely there is room for a lot of improvement in how we love each other.