Our scripture this morning is John 15:12 (NASB1995).
This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
I’m a big supporter of knowing the context of a verse and gaining an understanding of how it fits in the lesson we are being taught. Sometimes a verse by itself doesn’t tell the whole story. Satan cherry-picked verses to use to tempt Jesus, as we read in Luke 4:1-13. It didn’t work.
There are some verses however that pretty much speak for themselves. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2-3) is pretty explicit. Our verse today is another example.
Jesus gives us a commandment to “love one another, just as I have loved you.” No clauses, no exceptions, no questions. It may be hard to love those who don’t love us back, but Jesus taught and lived this, and He expects us to live it as well.
Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to save us and show us how to spread the Good News. Bless us to be loving disciples who bring the Gospel to the world. Amen.
