Gtcotr/ss050519
John 13 NKJV
34 “A new commandment I give
to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another.
35 By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Barnes Commentary of the Bible: “… they were to be distinguished by tender and
constant attachment to each other. This was to surmount all distinction of country,
of colour, of rank, of office, of sect. Here they were to feel … they were redeemed
by the same sacred blood, and were going to the same heaven. They were to
befriend each other in trials; be careful of each other’s feelings and
reputation; (and) deny themselves to promote each other’s welfare.”
Jesus
gave them this New Commandment just before He went to the cross to demonstrate
the unselfish kind of love He was talking about. He said:
John 15
12 “This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.”
The sad truth about
love is:
1. Some people can’t love …
a. They’re broken;
wounded; hurt; or lost.
b. Some people don’t
even love themselves … how can they love anyone else?
2. Some people won’t love …
a. They’re afraid;
envious; jealous; selfish; prejudice; or insecure.
b. Some people have
taken up a reproach against others and refuse to let it go. They choose to not
love people on purpose.
Leviticus 19:18 You shall not
take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but
you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
3. Some people don’t love …
a. They’re just too
busy to take the time that love demands.
b. Love is something we
do, not just something we say or feel.
What
does love look like? Can you see love? If you can’t see love, it may not be
real. Not other people loving you but you loving other people.
1 Corinthians 13 NKJV
4 ¶ Love suffers long and
is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in
iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8a Love never fails.
God is not talking about the love you are
receiving …He is talking about the love you are giving.
1 John 3:23 And this is His
commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and
love one another, as He gave us commandment.
It
is not enough for God that you believe in Jesus … He wants you to love.
1 John 4:19 We love Him
because He first loved us.
Ø God loves first …
Ø God loves most …
Ø God loves always …
There
is never a question of God’s love. There may be a question of God’s approval,
but never a question of His love. God loves you!
·
Is
there someone you can’t love; someone you won’t love; or someone to whom you
should show love?
·
God
wants you to love others, even your enemies … the devil wants you to withhold
God’s love from others. He will supply the reasons.
·
You
have a chance to leave here today more like Jesus than when you came. You can
change today by submitting your life to Christ.
·
You
can do this with me right now in prayer. (Love is kind …)
James 4:7 Therefore submit to
God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
