If frequency counts for anything (it does), the command to “love one another” is one we should carefully consider. It is recorded nearly a dozen times in the New Testament. Interestingly, three of the key New Testament apostles record it in their epistles, each emphasizing a different facet.
Paul says that our love should be increasing. “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men” (1 Thes. 3:12; see 1 Thes. 4:9f; 2 Thes. 1:3). Paul, as the wise master builder, was always thinking of edification and growth. Let us never think we have arrived. Such proud self-confidence will cause our love to shrivel up. Is our love growing? Are we investing more time, prayer, energy, and resources in our brothers and sisters now than we did a year ago? Or have we withdrawn?
Peter’s great burden (of course) is that our love should be fervent. “Fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22); “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:8). Peter’s passion and zeal may have occasionally been misguided, but not here. Half-hearted love is no love at all. Serving others grudgingly or grumpily takes all the sweetness out of it (for them and for us).
But it is no surprise two-thirds of the occurrences of this command are found in the writings of John. He it was who wrote, “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8, 16). And he would know. He was “the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper” (Jn. 21:20). He had learned the lesson that Saul began to learn on the road the Damascus: love for Christ and love for His church are inseparable “for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn. 4:20). Beware of Christians who are so “spiritual” that they don’t get along with anyone. True love for Christ always manifests itself in a deep love for others.
These three great apostles had all learned that Christian love was essential. I wonder if they valued it all the more because each could look back on days when they didn’t value it as much? John, along with James, had sought pre-eminence over his brethren; Peter had viewed himself as greater than the other disciples, asserting that he would never desert the Lord, even if they did; and Paul never forgot that he had persecuted the church of God. Formerly, so self-centered. Now, three trophies of love.
What about us? How loving are we? The other one another commands of the New Testament provide a practical (and sometimes uncomfortable!) checklist by which we can measure our love. Can I really claim to love other believers if I neglect to bear their burdens or if I rarely pray for them? Do I really love my brothers and sisters in Christ if I don’t forgive them or serve them or encourage them? Sobering questions.
There is one more apostle who taught us about love: the apostle and high priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1). On the eve of the cross, He commanded, “love one another, even as I have loved you” (Jn. 13:34). For 33 years, He walked among us, radiating a love which reached its zenith at Calvary: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). In response, we too are called to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 Jn. 3:16). Then people will know that we’re His disciples (Jn. 13:35) because we’ll be like Him.