Day 57: Greater Love

26 Feb, 2016

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, February 26th, 2016
Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Mark 8:11-38
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 10:17
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1o4N9pm

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. – Lev 19:18

God’s Old Testament commandment to His people was hard enough: love your neighbor as yourself. But our requirement is even greater. In the New Testament, Jesus upped the ante to His disciples:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. – Jn 13:34

How did Jesus love us? He died for us. He laid His life down so we would never have to fear death. He took on the punishment we deserved so we could experience guilt-free relationship with God.

Are you loving your neighbors like Jesus loved you? Don’t panic. None of us fully can; and that is why we need God’s help. That’s why He filled us with His Holy Spirit, so the same Spirit who strengthened Jesus to suffer and die on the Cross will strengthen us to love each other as only God can!

A greater commandment requires greater strength. We have been called to love like only God can love. To do that, we have to stop trying to love others, and start receiving and understanding God’s love for us. We have to lean on His Holy Spirit to love perfectly through us, as only God can. As we learn to love the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we will be filled with desire to go out and love others.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. – Jn 13:35

Prayer:

Father, I want to love like You! I know the only way that will happen is if I rely on Your Holy Spirit to love people through me. Help me to let the world know your love!

View today’s post on our website: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-57-greater-love/

Archives

See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-57-seeking-a-sign/

See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-57-deny-yourself/

© Michael D. White, 2016. All rights reserved.