Today’s Encouragement is John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If you have love –
My friends, Jesus spoke these words to his disciples the night He was arrested; these are some of His final thoughts. And He phrased this as ‘A New Commandment’. He could have said, ‘And, by the way, it’d be a good idea to love each other too’. But instead, He said it was a New Commandment. Perhaps we should take note?
It’s easy to love some people, we have a natural attraction to certain folks, and then there are others, even within the family of God, who just are not very loveable! These my friends- the “NVL” (not very loveable) are the very people we are called to Love!
Of course, we also ‘get to’ love those for whom our love is more natural, but when we choose, by God’s Grace, to love others because they too belong to Him… in This love my friends, God’s Love flows through us. Our nature is to avoid, ignore, even shun the NVL… but God has a better way. A way for ALL to be loved in His family… as we lay down our pride, say ‘No’ to our natural emotions, and say ‘Yes’ to Him! We will love as You have loved us!
Lord we can only do this in Your power. Grant us the gift of loving those who… just aren’t very loveable. And by Your power, may we come love them in truth.
Love Each Other
Graham Kendrick
Today’s Encouragement 