A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:35 (NIV)
We often find it hard to love others. It can be especially difficult to do this when people are mean to us or hurt us in some way. So whether we’ve been treated bad or good, the Bible tells us to love others. This love for others shouldn’t be based on what others do to you. So regardless of how others treat you, you should always respond to them in love.
This kind of love can seem a bit crazy. We’re used to people getting revenge, payback, or teaching other people a lesson. So why would Jesus ask us to do something so radically different? It’s because Jesus knew there was a better way. He knew that loving others was the best way because it frees us from carrying around hurt, revenge and bitterness.
So how do we begin to love others in this radical way? We have to begin to realize that the love for others doesn’t come from us. We can love others because Jesus loved us first. He loved us when we had nothing to offer Him. Because of this love, we can do the same and love others.
