Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 2-15-24, John 13:34- "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." Love has always been the commandment. Jesus was about to demonstrate the most extreme love possible. He was about to die for no cause of His own. He was laying his life on the altar of sin so that this foreign agent, sin, might be broken, destroyed, and made of no effect in the lives of all mankind. Jesus loved us so much He laid down His life. He loved us so much, He willingly agreed to this sinless sacrifice of Himself, so that we might be saved from sin. Love and justice move hand in hand. Justice required a sacrifice to atone, make up for, cancel, Adam's rebellion. Love paved the way. Jesus was both King, Word, and Sacrifice. He did what we could not, and cannot, do. He gave His life for ours; the exchange only needed to be done once. Jesus said love is He loves. He requires all who say they are His to be like Him. Others will betray Him. John 13:35- "By this men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." The world will know your relationship with Jesus by what you do and how you speak. They will know. The original commandment was to "...love your neighbor as yourself..."(Leviticus, 19:18b) Jesus added the new commandment - love as "I have loved you." Jesus gave his life for us; will we do as much? Jesus forgave those who repented and believed; what will we do? Jesus arose from the grave to sit at the right hand of God. He correctly judges all men's thoughts, words, and actions. Will we sit with Him exercising correct discernment and love?(Ephesians 2:6) The new commandment of love requires new commandment ways. 1 John 4:7-8- "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."