9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:9-17
Let's face it: people are different, and we can get on each other's nerves! But Jesus...He loved everyone! He is no respecter of persons, doesn't care what your politics are, color, shape, size, sound of your voice, affluence, is doesn't matter! I am called to love because He loves me, and He laid down His life for me. I must admit that I sometimes find this command daunting. My humanity, and my sometimes Pharisaical critical spirit that causes me to look at others through natural eyes instead of the eyes of Jesus. I'm awestruck and stupefied that He went to the cross like a lamb, beaten and killed as He was scorned. How can I love like that?
He has commanded me to love like He loved me, not a suggestion - a commandment.
I can't do this on my own. My prayer is that today and everyday God will give me, and you, if you struggle in this place- the grace and love to fulfill this commandment straight from Jesus Himself.
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