LOVE LIKE WHAT?

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34-35

Do you know what "apologetics" is? Wikipedia defines it as "Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the religious discipline of defending or attempting to prove the truth of religious doctrines through systematic argumentation and discourse." People study how to convince others that following Jesus is a real and good thing. It is a useful.

Jesus, however, said that the love we have for each other is the proof that we are really following Him. We can craft fine arguments about why Jesus is who He says, but it still leaves Him as an idea you are trying to sell someone on. Love, on the other hand, proves we are actually following Him, not just talking about Him. That's according to Jesus himself.

​So how do we love - what does it look like? What does Jesus expect in how we love? Well, He said: "Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."  Wait - Jesus wants me to love - I can do that. Jesus wants me to love "just like He loves me"?  Hold up a minute... If you have any idea at all of how deeply, completely, purely, and effectively Jesus loves you, then you get it: THIS IS A TALL ORDER!!! So, we can waste time wringing our hands over the hugeness of what Jesus asks - or we can just set out in faith to do it. 
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Do it. If He asks, He will enable. With humans, it is impossible. With God, all things are possible. He is with you today. You can do this. Prove to the watching world you follow Jesus. Go love them like He loves you. Totally doable because He's totally with you. Its what He wants and its what they need.

Spark. Flame. Warm the world with it.