As I Have Loved

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

This world knows nothing about love.  Love is a word that has been so diluted and misunderstood in our generation.  Jesus came to show a different kind of love altogether.  Not only did Jesus give commandment to His disciples to love one another, He went further to share with them how they were to love.  He said simply “As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”    

If we are to love the way Jesus loved us, then we must ask ourselves the simple question…How does Jesus Love?  Jesus’ love showed grace and mercy to everyone.  He also forgave people of their sins and trespasses.  Jesus taught us in his model prayer that we are pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Jesus also loved his enemies.  Do you have this type of love? 

Contrary to what many people would consider to be an act of love, Jesus’ love was such that He loved people enough to tell them the truth.  The truth about themselves and how they erred from God and His ways.  Many of us avoid sharing this type of truth with people because we don’t want to hurt feelings.  Most of the time truth isn’t accepted because love is not the motivation of speaking that truth.  Some will speak the truth in a hurtful or angry way.  This leads to hurt and will leave scars on a person’s heart.  If you speak the truth in love, then the truth spoken will make its intended impact.  It will also be more accepted.

Do you have this type of love?  Do you walk in grace and mercy toward your neighbor.  When people say hurtful things, is your immediate response to defend yourself or do you not render evil for evil, but contrarywise blessing.  Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.  Matthew 5:44. 

It’s a God kind of love.  This type of love is not naturally in the heart of man.  It must be a love that we ask and receive of God.  It’s a sacrificial love.  It’s a love that puts self last and everyone else first.  It’s a love that will say things like “Father lay not this sin to their charge” or “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Let us ask the Lord to give us this type of love so that we can shine it to a lost and dying world.