Love One Another
Jesus gave a new command to His disciples toward the end of His life. He said to them…
“A new commandment I give you to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
John later wrote to Christians reminding them of this command. He said—
“And now I ask you … that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments: this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning so that you should walk in it.”
2 John 1:5-6 ESV
John taught that it was an act of love when Christians obeyed Jesus by loving one another.
This was important because it would show the world that they were His disciples. Christ-followers who loved one another despite their differences in race, country, background, and experience showed how much the saving grace and love of Jesus could change people and save people.
This is still a command for us.
The love we have for one another is vital to what others see when they look at Jesus' followers. If people who don’t believe in Jesus see Christians loving each other in the midst of difficult or violent times, it will be a picture of the love God has for all of us.
It’s while we were still sinners that Christ died for us. He loved us enough to die for us. This is the kind of love we are to have for one another.
Today, think of ways you can show Jesus' love to other believers. By doing so, you will obey your Lord Jesus and you will be walking in His ways.
Jesus Does The Impossible
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:26 is often taken out of context. Many people have taken this verse to mean that they can do anything they want in life because God can do the impossible. Often this can lead to selfish prayers and a small view of God.
In order to understand what Jesus is saying, we should read the preceding verses. In Matthew 19:16-22, a young man comes to Jesus asking for eternal life. Jesus tells him that he must give up all of his earthly possessions—something the young man is not willing to do. Because he failed the test, the young man failed to inherit eternal life.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:23 that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. The point is that loving Jesus requires everything we are. Our ultimate love cannot be split between Jesus and something else.
The disciples then ask, “Who can be saved?” Jesus responds in Matthew 19:26 that it is impossible for man to save himself—but it is possible with God. God can do the ...