Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt: Finding Security & Certainty in ChristSample

Before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). John’s words in 1 John 2:7–11 and 1 John 3:11–18 reflect the words that John heard from the lips of his Savior. As followers of Jesus, we have been commanded by Christ to love one another. But if we’re honest, loving people can be hard. It is easy to love those who are easy to love—those who are kind to us and who we have a good relationship with. It is harder to love those who are hard to love—those who frustrate us or who we have conflict with.

But Jesus’s command to love one another is not restricted to those who are easy to love. Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for them (Matthew 5:43–47). Followers of Jesus are to love everyone, even those who are hard to love. Jesus Himself demonstrated this love by going to the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not die for only those who loved and received Him. He also died for those who reviled and rejected Him (Romans 5:8, 10).

John tells us in 1 John 3:16a: “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us.” Jesus in His incredible mercy and love died on the cross for us, even though we are sinners, even though we do not deserve to receive such love and forgiveness. So in our struggle to love others, we can remember the love of Christ. We can allow His unconditional love to spur us on to love and serve all people, including those who are not always easy to love. As we love others through both word and deed, we will reflect the gospel and point others to the love of Christ that we have received.

Reflect and Respond

What are some practical ways you can love others this week?