We cannot just say we love God, we must prove it, and there are very real and concrete ways that we can do such.  In our first blog this week, we emphasized demonstrating our love for God by keeping His commandments.  Jesus said, “Whosoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me…” (John 14:21).  Tonight, let us consider another way we can show that we love God.

If we love God, we will love brethren.  Loving one another in Christ is a badge of our discipleship.

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

The command to love is not new.  God has always demanded that His people love each other.  In Leviticus 19:18, we read this: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself…” (Leviticus 19:18).  

While this is a command to love, do you see the difference between this law set forth under the Law of Moses, and what Christ said in John 13:34?  The old law said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus said, “love one another: just as I have loved you…  The new element in this command to love is to do so the way Christ loves.

To love as Jesus loved is a new standard of love never before seen by the world.  He gave up a glorious place in heaven to be persecuted as a man on earth, not for His own benefit, but for the salvation of humanity.  Even more, Paul said that we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son while we were enemies (Romans 5:10).  Can you imagine that?  Jesus tasted the agony of death, not just for family and friends, but for His enemies.  The world has never seen a love like that.

The love of Christ is selfless and sacrificial.  He loves consistently and unconditionally, and if we are to prove our love for God, we must love one another the same way.  That is the new commandment.

It is sometimes said that talk is cheap.  This applies to loving one another.  When it comes to love, like Jesus before us, we must do more than just talk.  We prove our love by doing.  

1 John 3:18 (ESV)
¹⁸  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

This is how we prove our love for God as well.  If we love God, we will always act in the best interest of brethren because that is what love does.  Always remember these words from John:

1 John 4:20 (ESV)
²⁰  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.