Daily Devotional

The Choice of Love

John 13:34-35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Well, I guess it’s a choice. Jesus’s words specifically were “command” & “you must.” Love is such a wonderful mystery, whose origins are from God Himself. After all, He’s the only selfless, holy source that could create and model something so life-giving as love. Our world’s songs, media & movies speak much of it, and yet it’s so often distorted and far from His original intent.  But Oh what a revolution it would cause! Love is water to thirsty souls, healing to wounds, and warmth to cold hearts. “It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails.”(1 Corinthians 13:6,7) Who on this planet, would not want to be cared for in such ways?!
 
And today, you’re invited to be God’s conduit of love for those right next to you. In fact, our Lord commands it. But we don’t have to find our own well of love to water those around us…we get to use His! “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It’s His love towards us, that we drink up in gulps at a time, that today we get to offer to those around us.
 
Is a family member of yours struggling? You’re up. Is your coworker hurting? It’s your moment. Is a friend rejoicing in a life’s joy? Celebrate with them! Is someone hurting you? Bless ‘em back!
 
“By this EVERYONE will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
 
Church family, let’s do it together, right now.
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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.