01/18/21 WHAT’S NEW? #12 — John 13:34-35 (HCSB) “I give you a NEW COMMAND: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Just AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, you must also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

The word “love” here is agape in Greek, the self-less, sacrificing kind of love God has for us.

The commandment to love was NOT EXACTLY NEW. Deuteronomy 6:5 commanded love for God, and Leviticus 19:18 commanded loving one's neighbor as oneself (cf. Mt 22:34-40; Ro 13:8-10; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8). However, Jesus' command regarding love presented a distinctly new standard for two reasons: (1) it was sacrificial love MODELED AFTER HIS LOVE ("AS I HAVE LOVED YOU"; cf. 15:13), and (2) it is PRODUCED through the New Covenant BY THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (cf. Jer 31:29-34; Eze 36:24-26; Gal 5:22). [The MacArthur Study Bible]

Our culture seems hopeless divided on nearly every issue and at every turn. And, there seems to be almost no willingness to listen and understand both sides in order to come to some sort of compromise or consensus. Instead our politicians and citizens continually say and do hate-filled things to anyone and everyone who does not agree with them 100 percent!? What a perfect time for committed followers of Jesus Christ to SHINE their LIGHT into this DARKNESS! Let’s work hard to show the world REAL UNITY in DIVERSITY by LOVING EACH OTHER!