A new command, or is it?
November 10, 2008
John 13:34 Twenty
34 I give you a new commandment--Love one another; love one another as I have loved you.
Was what Jesus gave them truly a new commandment? It had ben found in the books of the Law, the ones Moses had written. I the book of Leviticus it is one of the commandments that God gave through Moses for the people to do. What would make this a new command.
What makes it new is not the command to love, but the way we are to love. The verse tells us that we are to love others as Christ loves you. That is not always the easiest thing to do, especially when those close to you hurt you. But God does not give us an option. I know of a married man who had trouble with his wife. When he wanted to just quit, he read this verse and made a decision to love his wife no matter what. He will tell you that the marriage still has problems if you ask him, but that is not what he focuses on. Love is the command, and when his wife is unlovable, it is his decision to love her. There are many other marriages like that on both sides I am sure. And many situations with children like that as well.
It is easy to love the multitude, they have done nothing to hurt you. It is much harder to love those who hurt you. Do you have a choice?
