SUNDAYS WITH JOYCE

 

 

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

(John 13:34)

　

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
(Psalm 91:14)

　

The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
(Psalm 146:8)

　

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
(John 17:23)

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
(John 17:26)

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
(Romans 8:32)

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38,39)

　

　

　

According to the Synoptic Gospels, a similar thought was expressed by Jesus two days previously when He spoke at the Temple in Jerusalem and quoted what is often called the Shema ("...love the LORD thy God...") and the Great Commandment ("...love thy neighbour as thyself..."). In response to a lawyer's question, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?", Jesus answered: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law

and the prophets"

The "New Commandment", the Wycliffe Bible Commentary states, "was new in that the love was to be exercised toward others not because they belonged to the same nation, but because they belonged to Christ...and the love of Christ which the disciples had seen...would be a testimony to the world".

One of the novelties introduced by this commandment — perhaps justifying its designation as New — is that Jesus introduces himself as a standard for love. The usual criterion was "as you love yourself", as in the Ethic of Reciprocity, whereas this precept commands "as I have loved you", in which Jesus cites himself as the model.

　

 

....This 'new love' is nothing more than us loving each other as Christ has loved us. This love is a heart-changing, and soul-stirring love. Love operates from the heart. It changes how you think about yourself, and other people. You know you are connected to God, by how you love others.

How do we get this new love? It is given through prayer, studying, and following Jesus ways. The Holy Spirit will never contradict what Jesus says. If you love honestly, and truthfully, everyone will see the Spirit of Christ in you. God's love will raise your mind 'above' the crowd, above what other people think,or say about you. We should never let anyone keep us from obeying Jesus.

We should be so intoxicated with the Love of Christ that we are willing to do whatever He asks us, and the the peace of God, and the joy of the Lord will be with us, always

　

God's ultimate act of love is when He gave up His only son for man to restore relationship with Him.