"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  John 13:34

Something new, although very foundational, has been clinging to my heart lately.  In the above verse Jesus told His disciples to love one another, just as He had loved them.  Now this is not a weak type of love that He expected the disciples to have for one another – I mean, Jesus loved us so much that He gave everything He had for us – He even gave Himself to be killed for our sake.  So, Jesus "loved" us in the purest sense of the word.  The Bible does give us a practical example of what real love is:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Have you ever had love for someone like the love that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians?  I know I haven't, but I will definitely strive to love like that.  Jesus loves us with the love mentioned in 1 Corinthians – and on top of that love, He also gave His life for us on the cross.  Truly, there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13).  So, let's go back to what Jesus asked us, His disciples, to do:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  John 13:34

The reason we strive to love like this, is so that the lost world out there might know that God is real.  If we love them with this "pure" love, it is the love alone that they feel from us that will make them turn to God.  The world out there is starving for love and God has so much love to give – but He mostly shows His love through us.

So, go out today, and show love towards those around you – the type of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians – the type of love Jesus had for us.  This is no easy task, but to change we must take the first step towards that change – you will never reach a goal if you don't intentionally pursue it.  

For those of you who would like to join me in this, I have heard of a practical way to start showing love towards others.  Someone mentioned to me once that I should make a list of 10 people I come into contact with the most.  When I have made this list of 10 people, I must think of ways to show love towards each one of them – real love.  So, start today – make that list, and think of ways to show these people love:  Help them with something, give them a gift to show appreciation, give them a kind word, anything that might bless that person.  Remember, love is an action – so let's start "showing" love to others today.

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  John 13:35