John 13:34-35 NKJV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

When Jesus tells His disciples that He is giving them a “new” command to love, He is saying so because the love they are to have now for each other is not just the love commanded in the Ten Commandments which said to love your neighbor.  This love that He is talking about goes even further, it is to be the kind of love that He has for them.  This love can only originate in the Holy Spirit which will indwell and empower them after He is physically gone from them.

 So just what does the love that Christ has for us look like when lived out in our day to day lives?  We need look no further than the gospels.  When Jesus walked this earth He went about serving those around Him.  He met their spiritual needs by teaching them, and He met their physical needs by providing food such as in the feeding of the 5 thousand (Mark 6:30-44), and He healed their illnesses (John 9, John 5).

While we cannot heal the sick and feed all the hungry, the point is we are to put the needs of others above our own selfish wants.  We are to truly serve those who God has placed in our lives.  I am sure we all know individuals in our local churches and communities who need our assistance.  This is what Jesus is commanding us to do is to help them in any way we can.  This does not mean just by giving them money, in fact that may hurt them in some cases such as if they have a substance abuse issue.  But, we can give them food, clothing, shelter…etc. if needed.  We can be there to talk to if they are lonely, such as in the case of some widowed people.

God desires us to have a heart that is all about Him, just as Jesus did when He was here, He always did those things that pleased Father God (John 8:29).  Loving others as Christ has loved us pleases God, there is no question about that.  So, if our hearts are focused on Christ and living for Him we will have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to love and serve others as Christ has done for us!

My precious Lord and Savior, thank You for coming to this world and showing the ultimate love by and shedding Your blood for my sin. Help me to be in service to those You call me to love each and every day. I love You so Jesus and give You all honor, praise, and glory. In your son Jesus name, Amen!