DON HEBERT

Loving one another is not something that comes easily. It might seem natural at first glance. Consider, a baby often shows affection for their parents without being taught. But that kind of love is instinctive and emotional. The kind of love the Bible speaks about goes much deeper. It is not about feelings, but about choosing to give of ourselves for the good of others. That kind of love does not come naturally. Our natural instinct is to look out for ourselves, but true love must be learned and practiced.

We learn to love by seeing it lived out. Many of us can point to people who have shown us what love looks like. But for believers, the perfect example and teacher of love is Jesus Christ. He not only tells us to love but shows us exactly how.

In John 15, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the night before His death. He tells them, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” This message is so important that He repeats it more than once. When someone repeats a truth often, it means it matters deeply. Jesus wanted His followers to truly understand love, to know it, live it, and share it. The command to love others sums up everything He asks of us. It is not a suggestion or a passing thought; it is the heart of His teaching.

Jesus shows that love through sacrifice. He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus spoke these words knowing He was about to die for those He loved. The truest form of love is to give up something valuable for someone else, and nothing is more valuable than life itself. His death was not just an act of kindness, it was a substitution. He took our place, dying the death we deserved so that we could live.

That love was not meant to stop at the cross. It calls us to follow His example. Most of us will never have to give up our lives for another person, but we are all called to give up our pride, comfort, and self-interest for the sake of others. Loving well always costs something. It may cost time, patience, energy, or forgiveness. Each act of love involves a small sacrifice of self.

Jesus also shows His love by calling us His friends. He says, “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends.” This is a rare and beautiful truth. Many religions picture their gods as distant and demanding. But Jesus draws close. He shares His heart and plans with us. He lets us in. Real friendship involves honesty and trust, and Jesus offers both. He knows us completely yet still welcomes us near.

If Jesus calls us friends, we should treat others with that same care and faithfulness. True friendship means being honest, patient, and steady. It means staying when things are hard and being a safe person for others to trust.

Jesus also reminds us that we did not choose Him, He chose us. His love begins with Him, not us. He is the source of every good thing we have: our faith, our growth, our fruitfulness. He gives life like a vine gives life to its branches. Any good we produce comes from His power working through us. Because of this, we can never take pride in our place in His kingdom. Instead, we thank Him for choosing and equipping us to live with love.

Finally, Jesus loves us as our Lord. He is both our friend and our ruler. His commands are not meant to restrict us but to guide us toward what is good. In a world often marked by anger, division, and pride, this kind of love stands out. On our own, love fails. But in Christ, love grows strong and steady.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11