The Commandment of Love
From Dr. Larry Ollison
Once a man told me that it was impossible for him to love a certain person. Then he spent much time telling me the details about this man and how he had destroyed his home and his marriage. Finally, the man concluded, “So you see, that’s why it’s impossible for me to love this man. I’m sure God understands.”
God does understand that under natural circumstances, it would be impossible to walk in love. However, that’s why He sent His Son, Jesus. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we have access to power that helps us love those who don’t deserve it. After all, what’s the big deal about loving someone who is nice to you and loves you? Anybody can do that (Matthew 5:46). The mark of a true
Christian is when we love those who do not love us and are hard to love.
In Matthew 5:43-46, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same?”
Here Jesus puts it on the line. If we only love those who love us, we are no different than the world. Even the people of the world who are not Christians love those who love them. But we are to be different. We are not under the old law. We are under the New Covenant. We live under the law of love.
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT)
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT)
