To Be Willing And Obedient To Love

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

—John 13:34 (NASB)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to be willing and obedient to love—in the same way that Christ has loved, and continues to love, me.

Christ’s command is that I love others as He has loved me—so that the world can see His love demonstrated through me and that You would be revealed in that love.

Christ loved through service—in humility, setting aside His divine nature.  So, I must also humble myself to serve others.

Christ loved through sacrifice—making the needs of others more important than His own life and death.  So, I must sacrifice my selfish desires to meet the needs of others.

Christ loved through instructing others with Truth and Grace—wrapping every lesson He gave to them in Your love.  So, I must walk that fine line of teaching Truth and showing Grace—at the same time—with Love as my only motivation.

Christ loved by bearing the pain of being misunderstood, reviled, falsely accused, and abused both verbally and physically—so that the greatest act of Love could be realized.  So, I must be willing to endure some suffering, when Christ’s law of love requires it—when it leads to the greater good that comes when I have loved the way Christ loves.

Help me to be willing and obedient to love—in the same way that Christ has loved, and continues to love, me.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.