In the last hours of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke with His disciples and gave a command which was considered new: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Should this command really have been new? Shouldn’t the disciples have known they were to love one another? Or is it possible to spend three years with a Master Teacher and yet not understand that learning must translate to action, and that we teach truth by first being an example of truth? If we desire to teach love, we must first be loving; to teach the concept of grace, we must first be gracious; and in order to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), we must begin by first being a true disciple!
As I continue to study and learn the wonderful truths of God’s Word, and as I diligently try to teach these truths to others, I never want to stop at simply being better educated: “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). I’ll be the first to admit that I fall short in many ways, but I sincerely strive to make His Word real and apply it in all areas of my life.
Our spiritual growth must never be measured by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed – by how much the Word penetrates to the innermost part of our heart. We have all been blessed by God’s love far more than we deserve. We must now better understand this love and then learn how to become His expression of love to others.
Ephesians 3:17-19
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”
The ultimate expression of love was that God gave His Son to an undeserving world so “that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is a love we will never fully understand.
Paul had such a deep appreciation for the love contained in God’s plan of Salvation through the sacrificial gift of Jesus, that he was often completely overwhelmed; “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father” (Ephesians 3:14 NLT). When we begin to truly grasp His love, all we can do is say, Thank You!
Let’s pray for a greater understanding of His love and then return His love through a devoted life of worship. Let’s make His love real by demonstrating love to those He places in our path. Let’s begin to grasp, and then give back and share, the true love of Christ.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries
**** Reading Plan ****
Sep 23 Isaiah 41:17-43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 67:1-7; Proverbs 23:29-35
*****************************************************
