a new commandment

Friday, Oct. 26: Psalm 44; John 13

"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."
(John 13:34-35)

On Wednesday night we began talking about Redemption and the Commandments, of grace and law. God gave the Torah, the "law" - his teaching or guidance - after redeeming them from bondage. They were saved by grace. We talked about finding our way between, or around, legalism and antinomianism.

We looked at Jeremiah 31, and the promise of a new commandment, when the law will be written on our hearts. And at Ezekiel 36, that we will be given hearts of flesh and the Holy Spirit - in order to cause us to walk in his statutes. The new heart, the gift of the Spirit, the new covenant - are given that we might live in such a way (actual actions, deeds, words...) that glorify God, shine the light within us, and bring healing and wholeness to those around us.

Clearly here, Jesus gives us a commandment. In closing today, this commandment is obviously Jesus' theme: love. All the commandments are summed up in love. The aim is love. The power is the Spirit. The motivation is thanksgiving. The result is the glory of God displayed.