1. June 30, 2010 "Love one another, as I have loved you."
2. 1 John 2 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not . And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: 2 And He is the Propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments.
3. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His Commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected : hereby know we that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
4. 7-8 Brethren, I write no new Commandment unto you, but an old Commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old Commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new Commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the True Light now shineth. The Command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new Command as given to Christians. Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.
5. The Commandment to love one another is new to us in the sense that: The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by His Holy Spirit . The Fruit of the Spirit is love . John 13 34 A new Commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you , that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
6. We can love one another as Jesus loves us, because He lives in us . The love of our Lord is not just a feeling. God so loved the world that He gave -- Himself . God wants us to love one another as He taught us to love in 1 Corinthians 13.
7. Love suffers long and is kind. Every time we are impatient with anyone, We are behaving contrary to love . Every unkind word or deed is contrary to love. Measure ourselves
8. Love is not envious or jealous of the blessings of another. Love is happy when others are blessed. Love is not proud or boastful . When I love you, I never even think or feel that I am in any way superior to you. We are all different : gifts, personalities, etc. But, we are all God's children and, therefore equally valuable in His Sight.
9. Love does not act ugly , is never rude , nor hateful . We can excuse ourselves all we want, But every time we are rude or hateful, we are acting contrary to love . Love does not seek its own way, will, interests. Love is not manipulative. Love is generous to allow others their desires.
10. Love is not easily provoked; not easily angered, exasperated, irritated, or aggravated. Love does not dwell on past wrongs; Love doesn't bring up the past. Love is never glad when others suffer, no matter how much they may deserve it. Love hates gossip, and desires to hear good about people. Love gently and compassionately speaks Truth.
11. Love is loyal to friends, especially in their difficult times . Love hopes for and looks for the best . Love endures and can never fail. "Love one another, as I have loved you."