34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Our opening Scripture reveals the unique characteristic feature of Jesus’ disciples: love. It is not by the labels or stickers on our cars or our doors that people will get to know that we are of God, or that we are Christians. Jesus the Lord said it is by having love one for another that the world will know that we are His disciples. From the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in the opening verse, it is very clear and unmistakably evident that love, the love of God, is our identifying feature as Christians. You cannot go wrong or miss a Christian when you classify or identify him or her by love. Just as Jesus came to demonstrate God’s love to us, we are to showcase same love to others. We know above every doubt that Jesus came from God, first, by the love He showed to us; and second, by the miracles He did. The Father’s work in Him was first demonstrated in His love towards us. In fact, it is worthy of note that Jesus Christ did those miracles on account of love for humanity. He was not trying to prove a point that He was divine; He was only showing us that He was Love – divine Love, pure Love. Compassion was the reason why He did all the miracles; He worked miracles in His love and compassion for people.
The failure of any believer is essentially the failure of Love. When people fail in their love walk, that’s failure indeed. Success with God is not measured by how much faith you have as it were, but how much love you show or demonstrate. When we look at the plan of salvation, we see love in action, love on the move, the love of God doing something. That’s how love functions. Beloved, the Lord Jesus has commanded us to walk in love. This is the New Commandment of the new creation in Christ Jesus. We function by love – the love of God. Everyone who operates outside of love is not of God and that’s how you know those who are of the devil. The Love of God is the real deal and those who walk in love are those who truly know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).
MY SOLID FRONT (YOUR CONFESSION):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that I function and live in the love of God. I am known by love and for love. I walk in love by the strength of God’s Spirit in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
Further Meditation:
1 John 4:7-8; 1Corinthians 13:1-13.