Love

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.  1 John 2:7-14

Have you ever been around someone who just exudes joy? I mean, joy just flows out of them so much that you begin to feel joyful yourself. Then, have you been around someone who has a dark cloud of despair and depression hanging over them? Unless you try very hard, you may find yourself getting depressed and despaired right along with them. We are affected by the company we keep. So does this mean we should avoid anyone who is depressed? No, we should be with them and help them carry their load.

The Apostle John is not telling the church anything new. It is almost a “duh” moment. We are to love. Why? Because God is love and we know God, so we should also love as he does…. with abandon. The command to love is the total sum of God’s moral love. If we love God, we will persevere and not sin, and be transformed spiritually. If we know God and love God, then we will love others, even if they do drive us crazy sometimes.

Did you realize that the word love, or at least a form of the word, is mentioned over 697 times in the Bible? Love is the cornerstone of what Christ did. God loves us so much that he sent his Son to die. Jesus loves us so much that he did the will of the Father on the Cross. The Holy Spirit loves us so much that at times he moans for us. We are to love others because He first loved us. End of story. No ifs, ands, or buts. If we do not love, we are not in the light but in utter darkness. I don’t know about you, but I want to be in the light (see my previous post)

The more we know God, the more we will love. The more we love, the more we know the will of God. You can’t truly know God and not love.

Father, help me to love more. Help me to look past myself and show your love to everyone you place in my path. Amen.