I John 2:7-8 “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command: its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.”
Be kind to others, show respect, put others’ feelings before your own . . . these things were taught to our parents, and our grandparents, all the way back to the beginning of time. The command to love is an old one.
But when we come to know Christ, this old command manifests itself in a new way. Suddenly, love is not about polite social contact. It is about becoming like Him! It’s about self-sacrifice. It is about putting others’ wants and needs before our own. It’s about seeing the people we don’t like in a new way – as people God loves. It is about allowing Christ’s light and His love to shine through us, even to our enemies.
Learning to love this way seems unnatural at first, kind of like learning a new language. But practice makes perfect! The more we allow His love to take over our lives, the easier it is to act like our Father. And though it may take some time, it really is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. Especially when the Creator, Himself, is the one doing the teaching.
Dear Father, Please teach me what it means to really love. I want Your light to shine through me.
Amen
It’s so funny, Renea, when I think about how much the Lord transformed my life. Until I started living for Him I never would have thought that I’d have the capacity to love and care about the people he places in my life the way that I do. Sometimes my heart swells at times when I don’t expect it. I’m so glad He taught this old doggie new tricks. 🙂
Me too, Sharon! And I’m glad He keeps on teaching me . . .