5 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 9:1–11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 16:1-3
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
John 15:12-13 (NLT): “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
We don’t have to spend much time in the New Testament before we realize that love is the theme:
- It’s the reason Jesus came to earth (John 3:16).
- It’s what motivated Jesus to help people (Matthew 9:36; 14:14).
- It’s the essence of every law God has given (Matthew 22:35-40).
- It’s the attribute that must be present in us, or nothing we do will matter (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
On and on, we could go. Love is the theme. It’s how God has related to us and how God calls us to relate to Him and others.
In the verses I have chosen for today, the standard for this love is clarified…
John 15:12 (NLT): “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
We are to love others as Jesus has loved us. That means that since Jesus loved us while we were still messed up (Romans 5:8) and nothing we do can ever separate us from that love (Romans 8:38-39), we must provide that same kind of love for other believers.
John 15:13 (NLT): “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
When Jesus said these words, He was pointing to the death He would die for His disciples to show His love for them. But, He was also calling us to follow His lead. He was implying that the kind of love we are to strive for is the kind that is willing to sacrifice for other people, particularly those who have some sort of need.
What would our churches and Christian communities be like if we loved each other this way? It would almost feel like a Heaven on earth, wouldn’t it? Unbelievers would definitely be attracted to that kind of love (John 13:35).
Let’s ask the Lord to help us grow in this kind of Christ-like love today … and then look for opportunities today to love others as Jesus has told us to.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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