A New Commandment

Scripture: John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reaction: I have read this passage many times before, but today I had a different interpretation of Christ’s new commandment. In the past, I’ve contemplated on how I could show my love to others by providing for their emotional needs (offering understanding, solace and empathy) as well as their physical needs (providing food, clothing, and monetary assistance). In the last few months I have also been thinking about how I might be a witness for Christ by sharing my faith with others, as many of my scripture reflections are pointing me in this direction. But I never really connected Christ’s commandment to love one another with His commission to bring the Good News to others until today.

During my meditation, I thought about how sharing my newfound joy in Jesus Christ with others is an act of love. After all, for the people I love most deeply (my husband and children), what I desire most is for them to be happy. Since I have found true peace and contentment in my relationship with God, why wouldn’t I want to offer them the same chance for happiness? And it doesn’t have to stop there; extending this wish to other family members, friends, and associates would truly be an act of love.

For the first time in my life, I’m considering evangelism as one of my life goals. I have to admit that it scares me a little. This is so contrary to my nature, having adopted an ‘I’m OK, you’re OK’ philosophy in the 1970s. But more importantly, I identify proselytizing with my mother, a warm, caring and deeply religious woman. Though I loved her greatly, her attempts to bring me back to the fold usually had the opposite effect. I’ve always had a general fear of becoming just like my mother anyway, and I certainly do not wish to be as ineffective as she was in bringing her family closer to God. Yet, I have a feeling that she may have been an excellent role model to those outside of our immediate family, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she was successful at bringing at least a few souls to Christ. And I certainly have no doubt that she is in heaven with her Savior right now!

But while I’ve had these reservations about evangelism in the past, these were not the thoughts I had during my scripture meditation. Instead, I felt that the Lord will give me the wisdom, warmth, and words I need to be an effective witness. I will pray daily for His assistance in this endeavor, and I am certain He will answer my request.