Today's Passage - John 13:31-35

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 13: 31-35    "...... A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."                  Here the Lord told his disciples, "A new command I give you." In fact this is not a new command, because the Lord Jesus has said. "There is no other command greater than these two; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' then 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." However, the Lord said here indeed this is a new command, why? For this love one another has new meanings. The old command is to love your neighbor as yourself, but the new command is to love one another, but how to love one another? We need to love one another just as how the Lord loves us.                  The love of God is self-giving love but the love of this world is often self-serving love. Some would say, "Oh, I love watermelon!" Does he really love watermelon? Once you give him watermelon, he'll cut it up in small pieces, promptly eating them all, and then throwing the rind away as trash. Think about it, he does not really love watermelon, what he loves is his own craving! Even when we hear someone say, "I really love this person!" Very often it is for self-interest and fulfillment, no wonder many people got hurt when they were in love.                  The lord Jesus tells us here that we need to love one another, he loves us with self-giving love, and it's deeper than love thy neighbor as thyself, as you have to lay down yourself! Jesus Christ came to this world, leaving behind the glory and riches in heaven, to seek and save the lost souls; when we receive this love, we need to love one another with self-giving love. The lord said if we love one another, everyone will know that we are his disciples, because people in this world need this kind of true love.                  If the people in this world see our example of loving one another, their hearts will follow and they'll come before God. But if we don't love one another, then everyone will fail to recognize that we are his disciples. We can do many big talks, but if we cannot live out the example of loving one another, people cannot get attracted to come before Jesus. May God help us in our daily lives, let us live out the testimony of loving one another, then this world can realize only Jesus Christ is the true savior.              Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, thank you, because you first love us with your self-giving love. May the Lord let us receive again your love, and love one another with this self-giving love, such that everyone can see our testimonies, give glory to you. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!