Commanded To Love

Behind closed doors, Jesus briefed His apostles. They would be the leaders of Christ’s new church, and they needed to know how to do it. Obviously, as it was Jesus’ church, they must relate together in the same way that He had treated them. Love was the key component of His character and was expressed in everything He did. So, Jesus commanded the eleven men (Judas had now left the team so that he could betray Jesus) to love each other. If they could love each other the remarkable way Jesus loved them, their lifestyle would be the greatest advertisement of their faith.
 
True love is not a sentimental response to something lovely; it is the deliberate, thought-through, choice to give sacrificially. It is a decision based on truth with the intentional desire to build up other people by gladly giving whatever will achieve that objective, whatever the personal cost. That was what Jesus did on the cross – giving up His life so that we could live with Him forever. That is love (John 15:13).
 
Love is not an option for the Christian: it is commanded. Those who believe in Jesus become children of God, and therefore are spiritual siblings. They are in the same family. Whatever irritations exist, love is patient and kind. Where insults are given, love does not retaliate or answer back. Where bad things happen, love is looking for what is good. Jesus’ love in believers defers criticism and seeks understanding, forgives those who confess their sins, corrects those who go astray and encourages those who are unconfident. Love is intensely practical, providing what others need out of our own, but God-given, resources. True love is selfless giving at the right time from a heart which is satisfied by the love of Jesus. That is the theory: today is the right time to put it into practice … at home and at work, and especially in the church!