Many of us know the two great commandments. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.
What about the third one? In John 13:34 Jesus said, “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.”
Jesus told this to his disciples as he was facing His last week before dying. Ever have those times when you were having a conversation without someone that turned out to be one of your last with them? Wish you would have paid attention better? Sometimes death comes so unexpectedly there is not time to say good-bye or treasure final moments with loved ones.
Final words carry a lot of weight.
Jesus was telling his followers then and now that there is a distinctive trait that will demonstrate they are truly His followers.
We get caught up in things we can observe as opposed to an attitude of love. We think people are good followers because they go to the right church, attend often, give some, have a position of leadership or something else we can observe.
Why is it important that believers love one another?
It is what the world needs and they are looking for authenticity…acceptance…unity.
It is fulfilling God’s ultimate intention. He wants to call and redeem a group of believers who will so walk in unity and love that the world will notice.
Recently in Slidell, this type of love and unity was demonstrated. With over 1,000 people participating in the Life Chain, we demonstrated a love for life, God and one another. We took a stand and were not regarded as a collection of individuals, but a body of believers in which Christ lives.
May this happen more often.
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