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3When we obey God, we are sure we know him. 4But if we claim to know him and don't obey him, we are lying and the truth isn't in our hearts. 5We truly love God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know we belong to him. 6If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.
The New Commandment
7 My dear friends, I am not writing to give you a new commandment. It is the same one you were first given, and it is the message you heard. 8But it really is a new commandment, and you know its true meaning, just as Christ does. You can see the darkness fading away and the true light already shining.
9If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark. 10But if we love others, we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them. 11If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.
12Children, I am writing you,
because your sins
have been forgiven
in the name of Christ.
13Parents, I am writing you,
because you have known
the one who was there
from the beginning.
Young people, I am writing you,
because you have defeated
the evil one.
14Children, I am writing you,
because you have known
the Father.
Parents, I am writing you,
because you have known
the one who was there
from the beginning.
Young people, I am writing you,
because you are strong.
God's message is firm
in your hearts,
and you have defeated
the evil one.
15Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father. 16Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes from the Father. 17The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.
Reflect
How do we know we are in Christ? That we are living as his followers the way God desires? The short answer is: his love. Loving others, including our enemies, is what sets us apart. Continuing his letter, John reminds us of Jesus’ commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. . . by this all will know that you are my disciples . . .” (John 13:34-35, NKJV).
According to John, love is imperative for several reasons all framed in one little Greek word skandalon. A Skandalon is something that makes you stumble, trip, or get trapped. For followers of Jesus loving others is crucial because when we love them we will not live in darkness. Similarly, when we choose not to love, our choice becomes an obstacle we trip over because we become blind to others in our darkness (v 11). Of course, this is horrible for the people around us who will experience darkness from us rather than the light of Christ. And it causes problems relationally and spiritually.
However, the person who loves as Jesus loved is in the light. And as a result, the path is obstacle free (v 10).
And yet, if we are honest, there are some reasons we lack love and the ability to do it. Thankfully, John helps identify them so that we can deal with them. He talks about “wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important” as major hindrances to loving others (v 16, The Message). These are traps we lay for ourselves. And as enticing as they all are, they lead only to darkness.
Which of these traps is influencing your life right now? How do you see it preventing you from loving others?
Respond
Jesus, thank you that you are the light of the world! I realize that I am letting other things get in the way of following you especially in the way I love others. Give me courage and discernment today to let go of these obstacles and to love others freely, following your example. Amen.
Meg Saunders
Meg has a passion to see men and women mature in Christ through reconciled, healed relationships. Recently, she launched The Crossing Ministries, www.thecrossingministries.com to invite others to think about who they are, who God is, and how the relationships in their lives can be reconciled and healed. Before ordination to the priesthood, she had a unique career on Capitol Hill, concluding with Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie and RADM Dr. Barry Black in the US Senate Chaplain’s Office. She also worked collaboratively with Dr. Francis Collins, the former director of the National Institutes of Health, producing: Belief: Readings on the Reason for Faith. Currently, she’s working on a new book called: The Risk of Ordinary Suffering: When We are Ready to Give up on God.