“A new 1command I give you: 2Love one another. As I have loved you, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” (John 13:34-35) 1Entolé: injunction, order, a requirement. 2Agape: a selfless, giving, non-emotional love. The highest form of Christian love.
It is a requirement for us to love one another with a selfless, non-emotional love. Why is this so important? Because: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we 3OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.” (1 John 3:16) 3opheilō: to owe, be bound, be obligated, must.
This is so important because: “Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
When we say or do anything that causes hurt to another person, we have a problem! “…for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)
LET US NOT LOVE WITH OUR WORDS, BUT WITH OUR ACTIONS…
-Bill Stockham