Love One Another

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34 NIV)

All my life, one of the strongest desires of my heart has been to have love -- to be loved and to love. I loved many things as a child: the family dog, the Beatles, performing magic shows for my family, playing the drums, reading The Hardy Boys novels, watching old time horror movies, collecting baseball cards, and riding my bike.

I've been in love many times. These girls/women have names: Denise, Kelly, Stephanie, Karen, Mary, Andrea, Dororthy, JoEllen, Gay, Linda, Miriam, Theresa, Anita, Lori, Megan, Nicki, Patty, Angela, Tabitha, Melissa, Gayleen, Angie, Lisa, Abby, Amy, Carolyn, Anna. To each of them I gave a piece of my heart, wrapped in a desire to love and be loved. In some ways, I imagine I tore off a piece of their heart when the reality of love ended.

As an adult, lost in addiction and shadow, I've loved many things: drugs, sex, pornography, food, anger, isolation, laziness, fear, pride, sleep, self-destruction, quitting, and perfectionism. These love affairs have nothing to do with the true desires of my heart. They are, in many ways, just the opposite -- easy ways out of loving myself, others, and especially God.

"Love one another."

The love Christ commands here is distinct. First, it is sacrificial love, modeled on His love ("...as I loved you"). Further on in the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches His disciples the truth of what He is about to do -- die on the cross in the supreme act of love that mankind has ever been shown. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:12-13 NKJV)

There are days when, but for a moment, a flash, that in the deepest truth of my heart I know it's a good day to die. As a believer in, and disciple of, Christ, I understand how love -- such a small word bearing inexplicable strength -- could be of such priority. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NASB)

"...if you love one another."

Easier said than done. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, set the bar: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:9-13 NIV, italics added)

My acts of love to the one another's in my life have always fallen so far short of the model that includes sincerity, devotion, honor, spiritual fervor, joy, patience, faith, sharing, and hospitality. I give praise to the Lord for His example -- set in truth and action before the cross, with His death, and empowered through His Spirit following His resurrection and ascension.

Finally, let us -- yes, one another -- hear the words of Paul in his First Letter to the church at Corinth. Keep in mind: Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, didn't exactly embody love in his early years.

"And now I will show you the most excellent way...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." (1 Corinthians 13:1, 4-8 NIV)

As a child of God, as a man among men, I choose love. I open the eyes of my heart today, looking at you, searching for the bridge, embracing the desire to love and be loved.

Yes, Lord -- it is, indeed, a good day to die!