A New Commandment

“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.” John 13:34-35 NKJV

We are told that Christians must love God. Is it possible to command someone to love someone? It is impossible to force someone to love someone. Physically it may seem to be working, but never mentally, nor spiritually. It may make sense to force to love someone visible. However, it never makes sense to order someone to love invisible God.

But the Scripture clearly states that we must love God and Him only. How is it possible? Do not misunderstand that our God forces people to love Him with all His mighty power. The Scripture says that God never coerces the freedom of choice in humanity. God can do it, but he does not, never. Our God wants humans to love him voluntarily and liberally.

There is another great misunderstanding that loving God is the same as loving someone emotionally. It is common for a man and woman to love emotionally. But it is unusual to love invisible God emotionally. Ah, we are not forsaken in finding answer how we can love invisible God. Apostle John said that loving God means to keep His commandments. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NKJV)

That’s what our Lord Jesus Christ did to the Father in heaven. The Son Jesus Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). Jesus Christ didn’t die by the hands of the devil (John 14:30). There is no power which can hold of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Son Jesus voluntarily and willingly gave His life unto the Father (John 14:31).

This is the reason that Christians must love God and Him only. Yes, God loved us first. So, we respond to His love to keep His commandments. In fact, God loved us when we were still sinners. Love is reciprocal. God is love. So, we must respond to His love in order that the love of God may fully come home in the soul and spirit.

What is then the commandment of God? Jesus Christ gave His disciples a new command in Thirteenth Chapter of John’s Gospel. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34 NKJV)

That’s how we love God by loving one another. Of course, we do love one another not because our brothers are lovable, but because Jesus Christ loved us when we were yet sinners. Here are a few practical exhortations how we love one another. We say a kind word to the ungrateful. We do not revenge when reviled. We comfort the hurt. We give a hand to who are in need. John exhorts us in his letter, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18 NKJV) 

Am I obeying the commandment of God by liberally loving one another simply they are brothers in Christ?