Love One Another – Imagine That
Jesus told us to love one another. He even gave some direction:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Jesus came to this earth because he was mad at us. Imagine that. Yes, and He loved us too. But consider that the problem was that we rebelled against God and then really did understand him despite his best efforts.
Jesus Died for His Enemies
Jesus was mad at us, and so came to die for us. Imagine that.
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Oh my, Jesus says love like that. Big ask, but he most definitely went and goes before us.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Jesus said we should love our enemies. He did it foremost.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I do not think this is humanly possible. I noted in another post that the Bible also says our love must be sincere. Really, Jesus wants us to reach high, but I also suggest he wants us to look to him and tell him we do not have that. We need Him so.
Love One Another Like Jesus Showed Us – Like His Children
Jesus is telling us what heaven looks like. It is a place with a love that we can scarcely imagine. I see that humanly I need to spend less time with some people who wear me out and more time with people who are easy to be with. I do not have enough ‘love one another’ to live otherwise unless I want to fake it. Surely, that is not what Jesus calls for.
So love one another is simply said, but shockingly hard in real life. God help us see others with his eyes. God did not make any garbage. He can see each person and smile. In real life sometimes we cannot do that sincerely.
Jesus spoke harsh words for the Pharisees and Sadducees calling them sons of the devil. Yet I sense he could not have hated them so much if he did not also love them so. Note that He cries out:
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
This is our God. He hates them and yet longs for them with a deep heart. May we reach for this knowing we may not reach as far as Jesus did, but he gives us this vision. He does not want to burden us, but rather invite us to a deep love that is straight from heaven.
