Together - Daily DevotionalSample

A New Commandment

Reading: John 13:34-35

Key Verse: “A new commandment I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” verse 34-35

To “seek first the kingdom of God” is to be a person who loves God and loves people. That love is not simply an emotion but compassionate involvement by providing practical help to someone in need. Now Jesus establishes a new priority for our lives. We are to love other disciples and by that love people who are not His disciples will recognise us as authentic followers of Jesus. The love we are to have for “one another” is to be unlimited and sacrificial just as Jesus loved us. James emphasises that faith is only validated by actions of loving help to another “brother or sister” (James 2:14-26). John reiterates the point when he says we should “lay down our lives for our brothers” and share our material possessions with them (1 John 3:11-18).

To be a Christian requires personal individual faith but individualism itself is subsumed into collective unity with other believers. This is not a call to exclusivity because we are still required to help our neighbour in need, but there is a priority to help “one another”. Paul says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal.6:10)

Prayer: Lord give me a sensitive heart to love my fellow believers in practical ways