Love One Another as I Have Loved You

Never has a greater commandment been uttered to assist people in their relationships with one another. Whether it is taken in its true context, or whether it is taken as one person’s relationship with another person, the message is extremely clear – love each other as the ultimate lover, Jesus, loved and loves.

To love each other as we would like to be loved ourselves will free us to truly be ourselves. To forgive, to show compassion and understanding, to see the best in others, to allow each person to be him / herself fully, is what true love enables. (The exception may be for those who unfortunately have not experienced true love and / or are unable to express true love with others.)

The superficial in relationships becomes insignificant.  Someone’s appearance, career, financial status, possessions, etc., are seen as irrelevant to a true loving relationship. Superficiality loses its lustre. Reality rules! The real person is seen for what they truly are – a unique creation with so much to offer humanity.

The loving Jesus showed by his word and lifestyle what true love really is. So much so that he even died for humanity’s sake! He showed how to love deeply! How to lovingly forgive those who hurt you! How to live love in family relationships. How to assist those who are not as well-off or as fortunate as yourself. He showed that to assist those who are physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually ill is extremely important.
 
To share everything is a huge challenge for us who are part of a materialistic and consumer-based society. But if we are to truly love we must be prepared to reach-out and assist others with time, goods and finances, etc., as well as to be prepared to share and be assisted when we need it in return.

This new loving world is not one where we hide behind high walls or in cocooned apartment blocks. Where we fear for our lives or personal protection. Where we think selfishly and live accordingly - where darkness hides the light.

This is a world where we come out from behind both physical and metaphorical walls into the light. This is where darkness, selfishness and greed are left behind. This is where true love exists and where each individual is treated with respect and lovingly encouraged to be their true self!

To love one another as I have loved you is the call to enter the light - to be our true selves supported by the true light.

This 'Love One Another as I Have Loved You' article was written by Bryan Foster, author of the Church Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (2nd ed), 2010, a 329 A4 page instructional manual, and School Marketing Manual for the Digital Age (3rd ed) 2010, a 369 A4 page instructional manual, both with an outstanding array and number of strategies and examples. Copyright is retained by SMAPL.