Dave's Diary

Jesus made it clear in John 13:34 that there is a higher standard of love expected of us in relation to our fellow believers than to our neighbours in general. He said, “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” 

But why should we love each other with Christlike, sacrificial love? That’s what we’re searching the Scriptures to answer this week.

Prayer before Reading:

Join in this simple yet powerful prayer based on Psalm 24:7 before you read, “King of Glory, may heaven’s gates be lifted up, and its ancient doors be opened wide, so that I may come into Your presence and meet with You right now!”

Now spend a moment quietly getting focused on the Lord’s presence before you read.

Daily Reading

John 13:34-35 and Matthew 5:13-16

As followers of Jesus, a large part of our calling is to help others see the beauty and glory of Who He is.

Because Christ is no longer physically present among us, those who have not yet met Him cannot get to know Him in a direct, in-person way. Their best revelation of what Christ is like is to observe the impact He has on those of us who have a deeply personal relationship with Him by faith (and in whom He lives) .

In Matthew 5:16 the Lord Jesus explained it this way: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” And in John 13:35 He explained, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.“

When we Christians love one another well, it is the best possible advertisement for – and the clearest possible revelation of – the character of Christ. Conversely, when we do not love one another, when our interactions with one another are no different to the ways non-believers interact, or (worst of all) when non-believers treat each other better than we do, we bring the name and character of Christ into disrepute.

Why love one another? So that the world may accurately see the beauty and glory of Christ in us!

In 197 AD the North African Christian leader, Tertullian, wrote a letter to the Roman authorities to plead for justice for the church and to stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of cruel opposition. He explained to the Emperor all about the life of the Christian community and the truth of the Gospel. In one paragraph he famously wrote about how outsiders saw the Christian community:

“But it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another,”

May this be true of us in all our dealings with our fellow believers today!

Contemplation:

Please take time to ponder this truth. Turn one or more of these statements over and over in your mind:

• My interactions with my fellow believers are meant to reveal Christ and His love to the world.
• Christ is counting on me to demonstrate His love so that others may see His glory.
• By His Spirit in me, Christ longs to live His life of love through me.

Holy Spirit, please live out the love of Christ through me today!