ICS Daily Devotions
The Trademark Of A Disciple
John 13:34-35 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We live in a messy and dysfunctional world. Harmed by the very people who are supposed to love and protect them, many people carry emotional baggage and scars brought about by man’s selfish actions. What the world lacks is love, and the church has been called to show what is genuine and authentic love—God’s kind of Agape love.
The world will only become darker and more selfish before the return of Jesus Christ, and love is the distinctive mark that will set the church apart during these end times—not the spectacular or the supernatural. In fact, we won’t be able to operate in the supernatural gifts without love for the people. The hallmark of Christianity and spiritual maturity is our ability to walk in love towards even our enemies.
Jesus gave us a new commandment—not a choice, but something that He requires of us to do so the world will know we are His disciples. It is an intentional walking in love towards people in and out of the church. In fact, it will cause a jealousy and yearning for the people of the world to have this kind of love in their lives.
We are to love one another just as God has chosen to love us, but in order to do that, we need to establish what is God’s kind of love because that is what will enable us to love others in His manner. Some of us still tend to doubt God’s love and think that it is conditional upon our performance. Although the Old Testament shows God’s judgement upon the Israelites when they have sinned against Him, we must remember that God is holy, righteous, and just, and because He detests sin, He must judge sin. The Israelites in the Old Testament were under the Mosaic covenant which is a conditional covenant, and the purpose of the law was to reveal to them and all mankind their spiritual bankruptcy so that it would drive them in search of God’s mercy.
God love, grace and mercy were understood when Jesus came to fulfil the Abrahamic covenant, which is an unconditional covenant that revealed God’s love and pursuit to restore us to Himself. He redeemed us with the blood of Jesus while we were all sinners, and showed forth His unconditional love towards us when He dealt with the sin issue that separated mankind from God.
We will struggle to show forth God’s love to the world unless we fully understand and appreciate God’s love for us. Jesus has modelled God’s love for us through His unconditional love for us, and God’s love for us is consistent because we are accepted in the Beloved and seen to be In Christ daily.
Sermon Series: How to love?
