A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, so you are to love one another. – John 13:34
Paul writes beautifully in Galatians 3 regarding our freedom in Christ. He states clearly that, in Jesus, we are set free from the law as a path to justification. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are given faith in God that is counted as righteousness. We have been set free from the law of sin and death. But what have we been set free for? I believe God has freed us to live from love.
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord you God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus goes on to explain that the law and the message of the prophets (the entire Old Covenant) are fulfilled in these two commands.
But He has taken us a step further in John 13:34: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, so you are to love one another.” We are no longer called to love from our own strength. Jesus has become our Savior. He is our righteousness. We are called to love supernaturally from our identification with Him. The best way to grow in our identification with Jesus, and thereby grow in love, is by spending time with Him and allowing Him to love us just as we are.
So, I’ll say again, the thing I like most about the First 20 is that it started with no agenda other than to spend time with Jesus and get to know Him. He is our Savior, He is our friend, and He is our freedom. Take time each day to taste His goodness and be transformed.
Our God hears,
Joe Halpin