A New Commandment!
We are glad that you have chosen to come to 'Hear Then Speak' to read what the Lord has given to us to share with you today! The Word of God is life! It is alive and totally relevant for our lives. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this Word. Eric
When Jesus was in a debate with the Sadducees, a teacher of the law heard them and asked Jesus, " Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus responded with, " The most important is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all of your mind and all of your strength." He added, "The second is to love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30,31)). "The command to love one's neighbor was radical in its inclusivity, extending beyond family and friends to include all members of the community." (Bible Hub Study Bible). We need to realize that Jesus didn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets - He came to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17). Then in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), we learn that Jesus expanded the meaning of 'neighbor' to include even one's enemies.
At the Last Supper, Jesus, the Teacher, Lord and Master had just washed the feet of His disciples. He, in these actions , had given them an example of true servanthood and love. It was a prime example of what the servant-like love of Christ was - and they saw it in His actions.
After receiving the bread, Judas Iscariot left to betray Jesus. After Judas left, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, "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." (John 13:34 ESV). Jesus had just presented a new standard of love to His disciples. His love and servanthood spoke volumes to them, in that, they had just seen the servant-like selfless love He had just displayed to them. Then, He told them that the same attitude, behavior and actions he had demonstrated was what they should do and show to one another. He continued on in verse 35 to tell His disciples that their demonstrating this same love would be a witness to the world that they are true disciples of His.
The Greek word which was translated 'love' in verse 34 is agapao. “Agapao extends far beyond sentiment. It describes making a determination or choice to love in a way that always seeks the true good of another, regardless of merit or cost. It is rooted in God's own character. It is self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return.” (Strong's). The Bible Hub Topical Lexicon gives us added insight to this 'love' - “properly, it means 'to prefer' to love; for the believer that means - preferring to live through Christ.” How? “By embracing God's will, or choosing His choices and obeying them through His power.” Simply put, it is the believer choosing to do what God prefers, with them recognizing and knowing that God is love! (1 John 4:8).
"Christ's love for us and our willingness to love others as He loved us presses us beyond our natural human inclinations to the need for Christ's inspiration. Christ's love for us is not dependent on a quality in us that makes us lovable. He loves because He is love regardless of our strengths or weaknesses. Some want to be chosen, called, and cherished because of their human credentials of talent, personality or achievement. Christ's love is not motivated by any of these human qualities, but is grace-motivated." (Kingdom Dynamics NSFLB).
When Jesus washed the disciple's feet, Judas, the one who betrayed Him with a kiss, was one of those whose feet Jesus washed! Jesus knew that Judas was betraying Him, yet, He treated him with the same servant-like love as He did those other disciples who were there. Jesus did not die on the cross and shed His blood for 'some'; or only those He thought were 'deserving'. NO! He gave His life for all. 1 Timothy 2:6a reveals, "Who gave Himself as a ransom for all. Romans 5:8 teaches, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
I believe a lot of us have trouble with the strong directives Jesus gave us in Matthew 5 in verses 38 through 48; such as, 'if you get slapped on the cheek, turn to them the other cheek; if someone sues you for your shirt, give them your cloak; if you're forced to go one mile, go two. In verse 44 Jesus admonished us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." 'Persecute' means: harass, trouble and pursue you. 'Love in verse 44 once again. is agapao or choosing to love unconditionally, to do what the Lord prefers by His power and direction.
How does Jesus love?
He loves unconditionally. We just shared Romans 5:8b which revealed 'while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'
He loves sacrificially. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
He loves with forgiveness through kindness and compassion. Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
He loves eternally. Romans 8:38,39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Jesus loves us with purity and uprightness. Jesus' love is holy because He is holy. 1 Peter 1:14,15 reveals, "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." We have been commanded to 'be holy' also.
To love as Christ loves us, we also need to take a look at 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a (Amplified Bible), "Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. 8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. Let's take a few moments to take a 'heart check' based on these Scriptures. As a part of the God-head, Jesus is love. How does our love stack up?
Jesus loves unconditionally. Understand, for us to 'love as He loved, we are also to love unconditionally. It does not mean that we have to love what others are doing, however, we must love the person. (Remember Judas.)
At one point, when Jesus was in Nazareth, reading in the synagogue - the people became enraged. They drove Him out of town and were going to throw Him over a cliff. Jesus did not lash out at the people nor did He stay in that hostile environment. He walked through the crowd and left.
When we read in 1 Corinthians 13 of the situations we encounter where the love of Jesus needs to rule in our actions and behaviors, we realize how difficult it can be to love as Jesus loved. Such as: not insisting on our own rights; not becoming resentful; not paying attention to a suffered wrong... How do believers in Christ (we) love as He loved? Is it easy? NO! Can we do it on our own? NO! Is it attainable? Yes! How?
Jesus promised if you were a born again believer in Jesus Christ (Himself) that after He returned to the Father, the Father would send the Holy Spirit to come and live within you to be your Helper. We can depend on the Holy Spirit to help us when we pray and ask for His help.
Romans 5:5b, an amazing Scripture, reveals, "God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." "The 'pouring out' of love into believer's hearts signifies an intimate and personal experience of God's love, transforming and renewing them. 'Pouring out' also indicates that God's love is not given to us sparingly. The Holy Spirit is the agent through Whom God's love is experienced and realized in the believer's life." (Bible Hub Study Bible). What an amazing gift we have been given! The love of God poured out into our hearts!
Also, one of the 'fruits' of the Spirit is love (agape). "Metaphorically, 'fruit' is that which originates and/or results from the presence of the Holy Spirit in us." (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). The root word in the Greek for the word translated 'love' (agape) in Galatians 5:22, which lists the fruit of the Spirit, is agapaoa, which again is what God prefers. In the New Testament, every time the Lord's divine love is mentioned, the Greek word used is agape - the unconditional love of God.
Jesus is our ultimate example of love.
As the disciples witnessed his love demonstrated through His service, compassion and forgiveness, we have seen it through His Word today.
We have also seen that we have been called to love as Jesus loved.
This commandment is non-negotiable.
We are to actively pursue God's love in our interactions with those we encounter.
Praise God, we have also seen how He has equipped us to obey His commandments through the Holy Spirit!
It was through the Holy Spirit that God's love was poured out into us!!
If you have discovered you have missed the mark - failed to be obedient - confess your sin, repent and go on with God!
Be encouraged!
"For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end." (Psalm 48:14).
Unless noted otherwise, all the Scriptures used were taken from the New International Version.
ESV English Standard Version
NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible
Amplified Bible