“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 13:34–35, NIV 1984).
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. ..whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:8–9, NIV 1984).
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:27–31, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Love one another (fellow believers), love your neighbor (and who is my neighbor?), love your enemies (overcome evil with good). Doesn’t leave much room for “but what about…?” God has set the standards high (“as I have loved you”). But when it comes to love, courtesy, compassion and mercy, I am afraid we often set the bar way too low. Take a good look at these verses and then tell yourself whom you should withhold them from?
My Advice – What conditions and boundaries have we put on our love for others? If we have, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how much like Christ (“as I have loved”) we really are.
