Overflowing Love

Overflowing Love

I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

When I stop to think about how much Jesus loves all of us, it is overwhelming. The Son of God came to earth to invite us back into a relationship with him after we messed it up the first time.

Jesus loves us so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life for us. Are we willing to do the same for others?

That kind of love may seem incomprehensible. Perhaps we might see that kind of reckless, selfless love in the eyes of a mother who is willing to jump in front of a car to save her child, but even that is a rare occurrence. Yet, Christ did all of that—and more—for us.

Even when I ran away from him, even despite my sin, he patiently, kindly, and gently pursued me until I dared to turn and accept the love he had always shown me.

In today’s verse, Jesus tells us to love others as he has loved us. But this only reveals the inadequacy in our own strength and will. We all know people who make this command seem nearly impossible to fulfill. Yet, Jesus must believe it is possible for us to love others as he did—or he never would have told us to do it. In those moments when I feel weakest, I stop to remember the quality of God’s love for me. I remember his patience and kindness and how he was willing to show me his love, even when I wasn’t ready to receive it.

So, in those moments when I am irritated, angry, or just forgetful, when I think more of myself than I think of the people around me, I stop and reflect on how much God loves me. Like a coffee mug that is filled to the brim and then overflows onto the table, I try to take the abundant love that God pours into me and allow it to spill out of my cup and pour onto others. If I can do that, I’ll never fail to love other people because God constantly loves me more than I can contain.

TODAY’S RX

As you meditate on God’s love for you, look for opportunities to show that love to other people, as well.

Heavenly Father, teach me how to love others from the abundance of love you have already poured out on me.