“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13: 34-35
There was a lot of confusion in the hearts of the disciples during this time. Jesus had told them what was going to happen, but they still could not understand what HE was telling them. After HE had washed their feet and celebrated the Passover, Jesus was giving them a mandate/command – just as HE has given us. LOVE ONE ANOTHER. JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU ARE ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
We may feel like the disciples at times, confused and bewildered by what is going on around us, I guess we are in good company with the disciples. Do not allow your circumstance to define who you are, allow HIS love to define you! John 15: 12 – 17 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. This is what I command you: Love one another." As HIS chosen friends we get to let HIM define us and then HE gives us the awesome responsibility to love each other.
Sometimes you meet the real deal. Craig was a devout, Spirit-filled Spirit-led man. His loss will be deeply felt by those who loved him, myself included, and by the church. My love and blessings to Tina and his family.