“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” - John 13:34

Loving each other is not a new command per se. It was already there in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. What’s new is that Jesus is now the yardstick we live by and the power we live on. First, how much love have we given to one another? One very difficult commandment is the commandment to love one another. It becomes complex when the commandment goes further to say we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Some of us flip over our bibles when we get to this point, or simply glance through the point. Why is this so? It is so basically because we are humans, and weak in the things of the spirit. Even when the spirit is willing to follow this commandment, the flesh is weak, and not able to comprehend the mystery of showing love to one another. Love is a neutralizer; it neutralizes every negative, satanic, and demonic influence, howsoever perpetrated – whether in the spiritual or in the physical! Every Christian is under authority to love one another, and love his neighbors. Today’s word reminds us about the need to love. Jesus says, “A new commandment I give you”—not a new suggestion, or a new idea, or a new possibility, or a new life-option, but a new commandment. We MUST LOVE OTHERS JUST THE WAY JESUS LOVED US.

When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He told them; “if then, I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. This means that in showing love, we have to lay aside our status, and become a servant of all. It also entails that we engage in practical deeds of helpfulness. Living on the love of Jesus entails us taping into his vital life force – His power and spirit to conquer all things. By His power and spirit, we are also given the power to love. This point becomes clear in John 15:9–10, which says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” The secret of loving perfectly is to lean on Jesus. Jesus says He is able to love because of His relationship with His father – He abides in His love. This means that God’s power dwells permanently in Jesus as a divine power to love. So, we are able to love each other as He loves us simply because Jesus abides in His Father, and we in turn abide in JESUS, drawing from the master the strength to love. Therefore, lean on Jesus today, and begin to express love to ALL. By so doing, you will begin to conquer every adversity.

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I declare you are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Lord, I shall abide in your steadfast love forever. Thank you father for the fulfillment of my dreams and aspiration. AMEN