“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:7-10
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b
Romans 13:9
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
Introduction
There are so many issues in this world. These issues are not new as they have been around from the beginning of the creation of human kind. People are killing each other. People hate each other. People dislike each other. People are lying on each other. People are manipulating others. People are taking advantage of others. People think they are better than others. If we truly think about the aforementioned issues and apply the biblical definition of love, our issues can be resolved all in the name of Love.
The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
What is Love?
Love is not about just having feelings for someone. It is not about having sex with someone. The Bible clearly tells us what love is in the 1 Corinthians 13 4-8 which is stated as follows 4 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.” The above verses about Love is self-explanatory and I will not elaborate any further on them.
Love One Another is the Answer
In order for us to love someone it is best to have the love of God in us and know God intimately so that he can guide us because it is not easy. It is very hard to love someone who has done you wrong. In fact, many of us are busy planning our revenge on those who did us wrong but the Bible tells us that we must love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good those to hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44-45)
If we love one another, we would not slander each other, we would not lie on one another, we would not manipulate others, we would treat people the same no matter their political persuasion, occupation, race or nationality. If we love one another and we are in a position to help others, we would not allow others to suffer.
Don’t just tell someone you love them and at the same time planning their downfall. Show them that you love them.
How to Show Love?
God demonstrated his love for us by sacrificing his only son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 stated “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Are we willing to sacrifice our time, gifts, money and energy to share with others? We can demonstrate our love by meeting the needs of others, being there for them, caring for others, not expecting anything in return, being happy for each other, supporting one another, forgiving one another and not letting one’s opinion of you to anger you or upset you.
If you want to know who Jesus’ disciples are, the evidence is in our demonstration of our love to others. I am by no means suggesting that you let people take advantage of you or use you as a doormat nor am I am suggesting we relax the laws of the country. If someone does something illegal, they should be punished by the country laws.
To the young unmarried people, do not have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend to demonstrate your love for them. If they love you, they will commit to you by marrying you. After all, your body is the temple of the Lord.
Conclusion
I know it sounds very simple but the truth of the matter of is, it is simple. If we are Christians, then we ought to love one another as God is Love. Love is indeed the answer for many of our issues in this world. I conclude with this scripture 1 John 4:20-21 20 “If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.”