Jesus makes it clear—love is not just a suggestion. It’s a command. “This I command you–to love one another.” (John 15:17)
Right before this, He talked about abiding in Him, bearing fruit, and experiencing His joy. And now, He tells us the result of abiding: love. But He doesn’t just leave it at that. Notice what He says in the very next verses. He warns that the world won’t always be kind to His followers. We will face rejection, hardship, and conflict. But in the midst of all of that, our love for one another is supposed to set us apart.
Let’s be honest, though. Loving people isn’t always easy. It’s easy when relationships are fun, when people are kind, and when everything feels good. But what about when things get messy? When people let us down? When conflict sneaks in, and we’d rather walk away than work through it?
Loving like Jesus means choosing grace when your spouse says something hurtful. It means showing up for the friend who hasn’t texted you back. It looks like biting your tongue instead of snapping at your coworker. It’s choosing to forgive even when the other person isn’t asking for it. It’s staying in the hard conversations, keeping your heart soft, and extending kindness when everything in you wants to be distant and cold.
Jesus doesn’t say, “Love one another when it’s convenient.” He doesn’t say, “Love the ones who love you back.” He just says, “Love one another.” Period.
And here’s the thing—He never commands us to do something without also giving us the grace to do it. The more we abide in Him, the more we receive His love. And when His love fills us, it spills over into the way we love others even when it’s hard.
So today, let’s ask Him for the strength to love well. To love when it’s uncomfortable. To love when it’s undeserved. To love the way He has loved us.
