NEW Commandment in John 13:34 -Is Showing Biblical Love

“A new commandment give I unto you that ye love one another, even as I have loved you” (John 13. 34).

Some things old are always new!  The way of love has always been, and it shall always be.  What should be new about a commandment to love one another? I reckon it was new then; it is new still!  That which should be known, seems to remain unknown.  Catholics hate protestants, and protestants return the disfavor; blacks hate whites and whites still burn crosses, if not literally then figuratively; Jews see Gentiles as ‘dogs’, Gentiles treat Jews as dogs.  There have always been wars and rumors of wars; we murder each other with new weapons and with vile hate filled tongues.  When shall we learn to love and not to hate? It seems easier and far better to see the good in one another than to search for the evil; to recognize our neighbor’s virtues than to shame his/her shortcomings.

How can I show my love? First of all by my Liberality, “Love likes to give.”

2Co 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  (7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Is my liberality the measure of my love? Then let me judge it rightly and amplify it.

Look at what the Scriptures declare

• ·         (Pro 11:25)  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
• ·         (Isa 32:5)  The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
• ·         (Isa 32:8)  But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

Lord, expand my love, and make it flow out in many gifts.
Save me from ugly selfishness and a lifestyle of egotism.
Open my heart; and make it to open my purse.
Save me from the greed that does not weigh the need of others.
Let compassion and empathy become my travel mates.
Art not Thou the Giving God who gives to all men, and upbraids not? Make me like Thee, Lord, a giver, giving out continually, however limited my resources may be. Furthermore let my gifts be much more than of money:
Teach me to give gifts of loving words and kind thoughts.
Allow me to be sought out by those who need comfort and encouragement, and let me not feel robbed or taken advantage of when someone needs me.
Give me the heart of the Good Shepherd and the Mind of the Loving Christ. Today is the day of redemption; let me do it, and tell my neighbor the living truths about Thee, and Thy goodness, and greatness.
Grant me divine grace to do it in such loving terms and tones as to win him to Thee.

Love always woos and wins. It is the one thing that sweetens society and unites it into a Brotherhood. With what else shall win the world to Christ? What else shall convert the Heathen to Christianity? Our majestic rule has not done it;  Our trade has not won it; our continual propaganda has not persuaded it; we have failed on every hand; WE NEED SOMETHING NEW – A NEW COMMANDMENT!

“Love one another, even as I have loved you!”

Such are the old words that become new as we practice them! The secret of the new commandment is to put eternal truth of love into practice! Let us win the world to Christ by love; Let us win the lost by deeds of such sincere kindness that we convince them we love them for the Lord’s sake. Live out the power of love! Love alone has real power; love is penetrating and persuasive. It wins in every contest.  This is what the world wants and truly needs. Christ came to give it. “Love one another.”