“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”
—1 John 3:23

It’s an ugly truth, but the fact is, we as human beings are selfish by nature. You see, by nature we are in the flesh, and the nature of the flesh is selfish. It is wired to satisfy its own desires. Our physical appetites for food, sex, and the like are self-oriented. But God is calling us to a supernatural life where we transcend to truly love one another.

This is why Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). Even sinners love their friends because being with friends makes us feel good. We don’t love our friends just for who they are; we love them because of how having them in our lives makes us feel. As hard as it may be to realize this, there is truth in it. But Jesus said, “I’m calling you to something bigger. I’m calling you to love your enemies.” (See Luke 6:35.)

Yeshua also said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). We must understand that love involves sacrifice, and sacrifice oftentimes is doing something that doesn’t feel good.

Loving others may mean visiting somebody we don’t really feel like going to visit. Or it may mean being patient with someone, because love is patient and kind (1 Cor. 13:4). We sometimes make Christianity about going to worship services and enjoying our favorite worship songs. I love that myself, but walking with Jesus is more than just feeling His presence when the worship music is playing. Walking with Jesus involves loving one another and showing love to our enemies. In both cases, love involves sacrifice.

Beloved, let’s strive to grow in love. Let’s examine our hearts and ask Yeshua to help us love others as He commanded us to.

Father God, I know it’s Your will that I love others as You first loved me. Give me the grace and strengthen me to do the things that may be uncomfortable so I can demonstrate Your love to others. Help me to listen and be sensitive to others. Make me patient and kind, long-suffering and humble. Instead of seeking my own way, help me to yield to Your will.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Divine Truth (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.