New Commandment!

For Friday, October 11, 2024:

1 John 4:21 NIV: “Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.”

God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are pretty locked in on this “Love” command. But what if your fellow is a jerk? Really shouldn’t happen, should it? But we are told to forgive. How many times? Peter asked if seven was enough, but Jesus said 70 x 7 was a better answer.

Here are some of Jesus’ final words before going to the cross: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” This really wasn’t a new command. It had been around for 3,000 years, but God’s command wasn’t being honored. Jesus spent his whole life trying to change that. He was constantly encouraging people to be kind and helpful, to show compassion and offer forgiveness to one another. That’s what he did. It was kind of a new concept to these believers, because they hadn’t been obeying it.

But this is how the first church, The Way, grew rapidly. Members were sharing and taking care of one another. People liked what they saw, and wanted to become a part of it. Christianity grew through attraction.

Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship