In some regards, it seems somewhat strange that we're commanded to love each other.. it doesn't seem like something that should be able to be commanded!  But on many occasions, Jesus tells us (not just encourages us.. but commands us) to love each other!  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-45

In our modern situation, it's easy to see love as something that we show to people whom we also like, and struggle to show to those we don't… but Jesus commands that we love each other - like love is something we can turn on and off like a light switch.

Peter helps us understand how this works… "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

Peter shows us again that sin levels the playing field!  For those of us who have been forgiven of our sin by the redeeming work of Jesus, we have no right to boast in anything but him!  At the same time there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; so as Matt Chandler says "no one should walk with a swagger in the Kingdom, and no one should walk with a limp"… We have all been forgiven an entirely unpayable debt, and because of this we don't regard ourselves higher than anyone… and also no less than anyone.  Peter addresses this letter to "those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" - 2 Peter 1:1… showing that by faith we have an equal standing even with those who walked with Jesus; what an amazing place to be!

Spurgeon once wrote "I would continually act as if I had just seen Him and had put my fingers into the print of the nails!".. what better way to continually remind ourselves of how much God has done for us, and what consequence of our sin we have been spared at His expense.  In Luke 7 Jesus says "those who are forgiven much, love much".. and we have certainly been forgiven much!

How will all people know that we are His disciples?  How will we be fruitful and effective for the Kingdom?  Love each other.

Blessings,

Don.