A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13: 34)

Jesus describes His command that we love one another as being new. How can this be since the old law reminds us to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves? It is not a new commandment, but an old one. What is new about it is the urgency of the love Jesus commands us to give one another. The old law also drew people toward a hatred of their enemies, yet Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for them.

While love has always been a priority quality of God, Jesus’ ministry places a new and determined emphasis on it. It is also new because, through Christ, we have a new and greater example to follow. No one taught or exemplified it the way Jesus did. Jesus made it clear that love was the one quality that would define a Christian follower more than any other sign.

In today’s world, we see thousands who claim to be followers of Christ and they use bumper stickers, jewelry, knickknacks in their homes or they listen to Christian music, yet many of us watch their self-centered and reckless behavior. Jesus stated clearly that we would be known by our fruits and the greatest of those is love the way He defined it.

God of love, may the world know we are Your followers by the way we show our love to others!