Love each other. That was the command Jesus gave His followers in John 13:34. Was that too much to ask? For us imperfect members of the human race, it was. The kind of love Jesus calls us to is beyond our human capabilities. Our bent toward jealousy, pettiness, envy, and vengeance prevents us from fully opening our hearts to others and putting their welfare above our own.

Jesus knew that. He knew our limitations and frailties, even as He demonstrated His love for us by dying for us and rising from the dead to ensure that those who believe in Him will live forever. Our belief in Him ensures more than eternal life, though. Spirit in our lives. And the Holy Spirit brings with Him the ability to love others as Jesus instructed.

We cannot love others through our own power, but we can live them through the supernatural power of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us overcome mindset. He helps us experience Jesus’ love in a life-changing way so that we can share that love with others.

When you pray...

Thank God for His infinite power and love, exemplified through the resurrection;

Acknowledge to the Lord that you are powerless to save yourself and powerless to love others well;

Ask God to fill you with His love so that you may express that love to others.

Take time to reflect:

Review the encounters of Jesus in John 20. How do you see human helplessness displayed through these characters?

I know forgiveness is powerful.

In addition to Jesus’ power, what other qualities does He exhibit in His interactions in John 20?

Peace, belief.

How is loving others in our own strengths different than supernaturally loving others?

More passages on love:

Psalm 26:2-3 Test me,^(A) Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;^(B)
3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love^(C)
and have lived^(D) in reliance on your faithfulness.^(E)

Galatians 5:22-23 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³ gentleness and self-control.Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 3:16-19 ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with powerthrough his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deepis the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Share the power of love daily. Thoughts of this devotional is by Gary Chapman. Share one way you share your love with others.