Love and the Obvious

The New Commandment

A new commandment I live to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
--John 13:34-35

Love and the Obvious

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

--1 Thessalonians 4:9

Sometimes love seems like a difficult and confusing thing. This passage makes me wonder if that is completely my fault.

If I followed this verse, I would save myself so much trouble! I wouldn't spend so much useless time debating with my conscience over whether or not I need to include this person, or apologize to that person, or give her a call, or just leave him alone.

My problem is not that the Bible doesn't tell me how to love others—it does.

It's not that I don't have access to the Bible at virtually any time of the day—I do.

It's not like I don't have a Helper within me, activating my conscience to awareness of God's will—He's there.

Sometimes, the best advice is the simplest.

Do what you know.

If you are a believer, then God has already equipped you to know who you need to love, and how you need to do it.

An application: write down 10 names of people in your life, and next to the names, write practically how you can love them better. Write down what you already know, and ask God for new strength and motivation to actually love these people.

To image Christ to the world, love others in the obvious ways.