As I Have Loved You

Most of us ask, “Teach me to pray”, but we also need to ask “teach me to love”. When I read about the life of Jesus, I notice He cared about all the little things concerning those He was among.

For example He was concerned they would faint with hunger on the road (Mark 10:13), He took time to bless the children (Mark 15:32), and, during a meal, He would dip a morsel and give it to a disciple. He even heard the voice of blind Bartimaeus calling out for mercy in the noisy crowd (Mark 46:52).

All the time He was thinking of the other person and was moved with compassion. I want to be like that, like Jesus in my care and concern for those around me. Even as I grow older I still need to ask, “please teach me to love like this”.

Why did Jesus say, ‘A new commandment I give to you’, if we weren’t supposed to do it? As the Holy Spirit lives more in us, ‘I in Him and Him in me’ He will gradually grow the fruit of love in our hearts, and we’ll become more like Jesus.

Some people are naturally caring folk, but I pray the Lord will teach me to love all the time, and that the selfish part of me may decrease, as God’s love increases.

As we put this new commandment more into practice, let’s always remember, perhaps at the next function, or the ‘bring and share’ lunch, that ‘Jesus’ may be beside us, so to speak.
Here are the words of a song by F. Kirkland:

‘See they are waiting, looking at you, furtively watching all that you do, Seeming so careless, helpless and lost. Love never faileth, count not the cost’.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to love. Even if we can’t love the whole world, may we really love the people we know and meet, as You fill us with Your Spirit. Will You love them through us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.