“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1John 4:21)
In this love chapter of the Bible, John gives us 10 reasons we must love. His last reason is that we have been given a commandment by Jesus that we are to love one another. When Jesus was about to leave the apostles by way of His death on the cross, He gave the apostles this New Commandment.
Jesus explained in that same setting that this would only be possible because He was sending the Holy Spirit. He used a word for the Holy Spirit that means: “One who comes alongside of you and attaches Himself to you for the purpose of assisting you.”
In our culture the concept of a commandment is lost for many people because we are so democratic in our values. The closest we come to understanding the meaning of this word is in our military training. When my youngest brother was in training for the Marines the order was given that the smoking lamp was out – which meant no smoking. In defiance he lighted a cigarette. His Marine drill instructor ordered him to bury that cigarette in a grave six feet deep.
When he reported to the drill instructor all covered with mud and sweat, the instructor asked if he had buried the cigarette pointing north and south or east and west? When he wasn’t sure he was told that he had to do it again the next day and make sure it pointed north and south. The next time the no smoking order was given do you think he lighted another cigarette?
Do you get the full weight of the commandment that we must love one another?
Dick Woodward, 06 August 2010
4SpiritualSecrets 