John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus gives a new commandment to love. He tells his disciples that they must love one another the way that he loves them. By sharing the love of Christ with others, they are marked as a true disciple. This commandment is true for us today. The greatest sign of a true servant and disciple of Christ is the way we love others. There are many forms of love but Jesus was speaking of the agape kind of love. Agape is the highest form of love and its not driven by our emotions or feelings. It is a selfless love.
According to the Greek Lexicon, Agape is defined as brotherly love, affection, good will, love and benevolence. The Apostle John put it this way, God is love. If we love the Father then we must love in the same way our Father in heaven loves us.
The Agape love of God is in all who have accepted the wonderful gift of salvation. It is up to us to begin to exercise that love so that we may bear the mark of a disciple. God is looking for true disciples that have his Spirit. Without the seal of Love we labor in vain. The bible also tells us that if we cant love the people we see, how can we love God whom we can not see. Our walk with God must be one that seeks to be more like him in nature. If his very nature is love then that should be the core of who we are.
Exercising agape love is possible when we purpose in our hearts to practice it. Today, lets make the steps to love beyond our emotions and feelings when it comes to dealing with his people. It can be challenging because the heart of man has grown so dim and people can say and do things that can offends us.
However, we have the light. Let the light of God's love begin to shine on them through you. See them as God sees you and begin to walk in love. They will see your response and know that you are a true disciple.
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