“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Sometimes it can be hard to love one another. Even as we pursue Christ, we find ourselves irritated and short with others. We can have the best intentions, but real life gets in the way. Love can be a difficult trait to pursue day in and day out. What does it look like to love one another the way Christ loved us?

We are brothers and sisters in Christ and are called to a new kind of love, a love that is like the love of natural siblings, only more sublime and with better reasons than even the love of family members. You see, as Christians, we are part of a global, multi-ethnic, multi-generational family. And this family is ever-expanding as more come to know Christ! Just as others will know that we are Christians by our love, they will know that we are disciples who make disciples by the way we demonstrate that love to others.

What’s more, we who believe in Jesus are going to live together in heaven forever and ever, so we may as well be good friends while we are here. We will see one another there in one common glory and be occupied forever in one common employment, the adoration of our Lord and Savior. We should love one another here as we find unity under one Father, who we are all in pursuit of and growing with.

Love of our fellow man can take many forms—acts of kindness, prayer, disciple-making. Instead of being overwhelmed by the lack of love we may find in our hearts, let us seek God and ask Him how we can demonstrate His love to those around us.

“The remembrance of this truth of God ought to break down many of the barriers that separate us.” - Charles Spurgeon

The above is an excerpt taken from the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible.

Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world. He graduated from theological college in London and served two churches in Scotland before moving to Ohio. He is married to Susan and together they have three grown children and four granddaughters.

CSB Spurgeon Study Bible Brown/Tan Cloth

The Spurgeon Study Bible features thousands of excerpts from Charles Spurgeon's sermons, chosen and edited by Alistair Begg in order to bring the richness of the Prince of Preachers' insights into your daily study of God's Word.

The Spurgeon Study Bible features thousands of excerpts from Charles Spurgeon's sermons, chosen and edited by Alistair Begg in order to bring the richness of the Prince of Preachers' insights into your daily study of God's Word.