Mutuality Between One Another

As a Diocesan initiative, Theodosius Thirumeni had instructed Rev. Joseph Johhny from St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, New York to have various people create devotionals for each day. He sought me out last month, and he told me to make one. Mine was sent out a few days ago. Below, you will see my devotional.

The Mar Thoma Church

Diocese of North America & Europe

Christian Education Forum

Daily Meditations

Word for the Day – June 4th

Mutuality between One Another

John 13:34-35

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

-John 13:35

Love as a Command, not a Suggestion

Mother Teresa once said, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” We all yearn to be loved. Being loved is an intricate value of humanity. To go around not feeling loved is like walking in the desert without water. Christ understood that, and that is why His love was not simply to the teachers of the law or those of wealth and stature. Christ extended His love to those that were not loved. He loved the tax collectors, the prostitutes, and the thief on the cross. That is why in this passage we see Christ giving this commandment. He is not requesting or suggesting, but He is commanding His disciples and us to love one another.

Love should be Embedded Within Us

In verse 35, Jesus points out how we are to be identified as His disciples. It is by loving one another, but that does not simply mean our friends, family, and those near to us. It means loving those that are less fortunate, those that are discriminated against, and those that are hurting. Can we truly love like Jesus loved? In an individualistic society, we are taught to think about ourselves and to rise to the top, but Christ teaches us something different. He teaches us to not worry about our own selves, but to be there for others. In the thirty three years that He was on this earth, He modeled true love for us. As believers, love should be embedded within us, so much so that we can even love those who hate us.

We have been bought with the precious love of Christ. His death and resurrection was not meant to save a select few, but it was freely given for the whole world. Therefore, it is our duty to go out into the world and love one another. We are to be the hands and feet that bring souls to Christ. Therefore, let us take this commandment of Christ into our heart and show others that we are His disciples by loving one another.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have commanded us to love one another, so that all men may know we are Your disciples. Please enable us to walk in Your steps and carry out Your commandment to the ends of the earth. All these things we ask in Your precious name. Amen.