Love New

1 John 2:7-11 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
 
JOHN moves on with his teaching in verse 6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” He reminds the church this is not new teaching for those raised as Jews. To live in God is to love God. You love God. You obey him.
    The Jews have heard God’s love-obedience command throughout God’s entire history with them. For example, Moses preached this in Deuteronomy 19:9a because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today – to love the Lord your God and to walk always in his ways. Then see this love law in Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Love God, and you will love your brothers and sisters in the church. You will love those outside the church. You will love those who oppose the church. Loving God and loving one another is the true mark of your faith. God’s ways are sure and true.
    How then, is this a new command? Love becomes new every day. Each relationship we encounter will cause us to respond in some way to another. How will we do so? Will we walk in Jesus’ love to reveal his light of salvation? Or will we disobey our Lord to darken and even hide his gospel? Jesus renewed and affirmed the love law in John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus loved his disciples then, and he loves you now with a servant’s heart. Our Lord has set a love example with his servant, sacrificial life. This is the type of love that must penetrate to your soul, so you will increasingly shine his light into a world in need of sure love. With a Christ-love, you will fulfill your true purpose: to be a light of his salvation.
 
Life Thought: Renew your love for the Lord each day. Tell God, “I love you, Father, Son and Spirit.” Speak it. Live it.