A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-34, NIV*
Last week at Whatever He Says, Belinda posted on the importance of relationships, including the quote, “Relationship—with God and with people—nothing else matters”. It’s a powerful post, and worth reading (scroll up from where the link takes you). The novel I finished on the weekend, Just Between You and Me, made me think about it too. And the book I’m currently reading, Majesty in Motion, focuses on…you guessed it: relationships.
I didn’t plan any of this.
Did I mention our Bible study group at church is using the Experiencing God Workbook? We’re at the “relationships” section now.
God can be subtle with some people, but He knows I take a bit of prodding.
Loving one another doesn’t have a lot to do with warm, fuzzy feelings. Singer/songwriter Don Francisco called it an act of the will.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails [stops/ends]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV*
It’s intentional, deliberate, a choice we make. A choice we can only follow through on by relying on God’s love in us.
Father, I’m so thankful that You meet us where we are, but You love us too much to leave us there. You promised to grow us to be more like Your Son. Jesus saw people through Your eyes—with Your heart. Help me learn to do that too, and to be useful to You in encouraging and loving them.
∞
Our song this week is Matt Maher’s “Hold Us Together”.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Thank you for the mention of Whatever He Says, Janet.! What a lovely surprise and oh, wow, what an amazing song. I LOVE it!! I heard the most amazing sermon last Sunday while in England and this song would go perfectly with a synopsis of it.
Happy Pentecost weekend. May the wind of the Spirit fall anew from Halifax to Vancouver Island (Newfoundland not withstanding) and all places in between. May we be set aflame anew with his love.
Welcome home to Canada, Belinda! Your blog posts sound like it was a good visit, and I’m glad.
Amen, may the wind of the Spirit sweep across Canada and around the world.