As I have

The 365 Journey

Outline Week 43

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The chorus of the song "Hard to Love" sung by Lee Brice says," I'm hard to love, hard to love No, I don't make it easy . . . ." This is true of many people in our life. Sometimes people are hard to love.

Jesus loves difficult people. He loves us, even when we can be difficult to love. Here He sets forth a key identifying principle to be emulated by His followers. He commands all Christ-followers to "love one another" as He has loved them. Although difficult at times, this becomes a definitive sign that someone is His disciple.

From our text we can consider several factors that will enable us to walk in obedience to Christ's command to love one another. They are

The Decree to Love

A new commandment I give to you, that you love . . . you also are to love

Loving others is nothing new for God's people. In the Old Testament the Israelites were told not only to love God (Deut 6:4-5) , but to love their neighbor as themselves (Lev 19:18). Jesus here issues a directive for His disciples. We are to love. Our lives should be characterized by our love for all people. This is nonnegotiable. If we are a follower of Christ, we must walk in obedience to His decreed will. Christians love, regardless.

The Dimensions of Love

. . . you love one another . . . you also are to love one another. . . . you have love for one another.

Here Jesus specifically directs His disciples to love one another. Many have a bad taste for Christianity when they see infighting among believers. We don't have to always agree with other believers, but to be Christlike we must love them. But this love is not limited to those in the body of Christ, it extends to the whole world. Love begins at "home" before it can spread to an unloving world. Jesus calls us to not only love one another, but to love the "other". He said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor   and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matt 5:43-44). Love God, love one another and love the other, that is the Christian way.

The Demonstration of Love

. . . just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

The Declaration because you Love

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

For Further Study

https://drbuddyyoung.wixsite.com/well-watered/post/know-by-love