Find Your PeopleSample

Our Command To Love

Have you ever been on a road trip with someone who starts driving before knowing where they’re going? They slam on the accelerator, chatting away, and then ask, “Which way do we go?”

Successful navigation is about knowing where you’re going, how to get there, and understanding the obstacles you’ll run into along the way. Friendship is similar. Every friendship we have is going to end up somewhere, but the best destinations are ones you chose on purpose. This is where your GPS comes in handy.

We need both a destination and a guide. In today’s verse, Jesus gives us both of those for relationships.

First, Jesus shares what He expects from His followers: love. Authentic love is the God-honoring destination for our relationships. Second, the roadmap for this journey is the way Jesus loved us.

So, what does this kind of love look like? The most famous Bible verse in history holds our answer. In John 3:16, we read: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Often we take the words “so loved” in this verse to mean that God loves a lot. While this is true, the original language goes much deeper than this. Instead of a comment on the magnitude of God’s love, it describes its manner. The words so loved could also be translated as in this way. We learn that God loved the world in this way, that He sent Jesus to die in our place.

In its essence, the love of Jesus is about seeking other people’s good before our own. Love isn’t just a feeling; it’s a verb. Love is an action we show as much as an emotion we share. This is why the Apostle Paul shared in Philippians 2:4 that we shouldn’t just look out for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The destination for every relationship is love. The way Jesus loved us is our guide. How can you radically love someone else today?

As you engage with God’s Word:

● How do I prioritize loving others in my relationships?

● What is God saying to me?

● How can I apply what God is teaching me?

● How can I be specific in prayer today?