A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34). Jesus said He gave us a new commandment. A synonym of new is fresh. Jesus gave to us a fresh commandment to love one another. We are not to love one another with just any love, but as He loved us we should love one another. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). God’s mercy and compassion are new every day – God’s mercies and compassion are fresh every day. Is that how we need to love one another, with mercies and compassion that is new/fresh every day?
Lord, your mercies and compassions are new every day and great is Your faithfulness. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit, as is love. Faithful means always being true. Faithfulness is the ability to always be true. How are we to love one another? Faithfully, as Jesus loves us. The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him (John 4:23). The Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and faith (always in truth). In the spirit we can worship God always in truth. In the Spirit we can love one another as Jesus loves us.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8). When trying to obey the letter of the law, we are self-centered – our works are important to us – we act to receive something. When we obey the Spirit we receive the fruits of the Spirit. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us (1 John 4:12). God’s love is perfected in us as we love one another, as Jesus loves us. A synonym of mercy is forgiveness. What has Jesus done for us? What is salvation? The forgiveness of our sins! Not just forgiveness, but suffering to purchase our forgiveness. Not just suffering, but suffering to the point of giving His life to us. Jesus gave to us a fresh commandment to faithfully have mercy and compassion on one another – to love us as He loves us.
Father God in heaven, grant to us the Spirit to love as Your Son loves us. Grant to us the same love that sent Your Son into the world to give His life to us. Grant to us the truth that leads us to always love one another as Jesus loves us. Salvation has cleaned us up and allowed us to return to You. Father grant to us open hearts that will allow mercy and compassion to flow to one another. Grant to us hearts that will forgive and live in the unity of the Christ. Grant us to dwell always in the Christ, and all that we do to be done in Jesus name.
© 2007 Tim D. Coulter Sr.