Love One Another

I John 3:11 “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

Do you remember that little children’s song, “It’s love, it’s love, it’s love that makes the world go ’round”? I can remember singing that song – very loudly – when I was in pre-school. Loving others truly is a message we have heard from the beginning. But no matter how many songs we may sing, or how loudly we may sing them, our actions speak louder.

John has been referred to as the “apostle of love.” Over and over, we hear John speaking of God’s great love for us, and of the love we should show to one another. He reminds us over and over that God is love, and that if we belong to Him, we will demonstrate that love in our own lives. When we truly belong to God, His love spills over; it cannot be contained!

So, what does love look like, exactly? Paul gives a pretty good description in I Corinthians 13. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

As I read the above description, I must ask myself: How do I measure up? If I am honest, I must admit that I don’t always display these characteristics to the people around me. Oh, the lovable ones are easy; but the annoying people? I must remind myself that I, too, am annoying at times. And God shows nothing but grace and love to me.

Dear Father, Thank You for loving me with Your perfect love. Please help me to develop that kind of love in my own heart. Let Your love so consume me that it spills over to everyone I meet.
Amen