As I was in quiet time with the Lord this morning, He put this on my heart. 

To fully understand and be obedient to this commandment it’s important for us to know how God loves us. Because when we read it we may apply our own interpretation of love. What we think love is and how we experience it for ourselves. But Jesus is clear that we are to love others just as HE loves us. So what does that look like? 

1) He humbled himself for us making himself less than He was.

• “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) 

2) He is compassionate towards us. 

• “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matt 9:36) 

3) He offers forgiveness no matter what we’ve done. 

• “ I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25) 
• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (John 1:9)
• “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive”. (Colossians 3:13) 

4) He is gracious and merciful. 

• “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) 
•  “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

5) He came to serve us. 

• “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:25) 

6) He took on suffering and death for us. 

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 
• “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) 
• “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5-6) 

For God, love is: 

Humility

Forgiveness 

Compassion

Mercy

Service 

Sacrifice 

Death to our ego, pride, desires, expectations, and self-centeredness.

Perhaps, contradictory to the world’s idea of love. 

When we can love each other in this way, they will know we are His disciples. My prayer for all of us is that the Holy Spirit invade our hearts and minds and transform how we love God, each other, and others.