A New Commandment: Love

Focus: 1 John 2:8 - KJV

8. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

Romans 13:11-14

The entirety of the ten commandments that Moses got from God is about love – the love of God and the love of one’s neighbor. This is what everyone refers to as the old commandment. Even though Moses expanded the thoughts around the commandments to all manner of things just to ensure that men operated in line with the commands of God, the effect of such expansion which is called the law, was a clear opening up of sin. That, as it were, is darkness. No one in darkness knows the way to go, but grope. In the meantime, even though Christ did not come to abolish the law but to finetune/confirm it, what He introduces is a new command which is love and therefore light.

In the course of the old command, it was an abomination for anyone to do any form of work on the sabbath, by Moses’ injunction. Meanwhile, the original command was to remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Keeping it holy did not include allowing evil or hurt to come to a person God loves. But because of the darkness surrounding the old command, nothing was allowed to be done to aid a person in distress. However, by the new command, even if it is the sabbath, it is permissible to do things that bring love to bear. So, the new command is about light that allows for good vision and thereby speed and great achievements as against groping in the dark.

Let us come out of darkness, as the Lord has provided to us an escape route, embrace the light so as to achieve much more progress in life. It is our sticking to the old command that has prevented us from enjoying the benefit of the light of God. When we embrace the new commandment, which is love, we are bound to enjoy the benefit of the light in every aspect of life. Things become extremely easy and dumbfounding to the world, just as there will always be a way of escape in any calamity confronting the world or our neighborhoods. Embracing the new commandment exposes darkness in all its ramification and makes it powerless over us. If we refuse to show love to God and/or our neighbor, we put ourselves into darkness and out of the benefit of the light. It is important to embrace the new command and live.

SOLUTION: Everything boils down to love. Love God by honoring Him in obeying His commands; love your neighbor by doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. That is the antidote for darkness.

Father, indeed darkness has covered the whole earth and gross darkness the people. By your power, as we arise today, let your light shine upon each and every one of us that we may shine brightly for you in the midst of the darkness upon the earth in the name of Jesus Christ. Let every effect of darkness on our lives and societies be removed by the reason of our shining now, in Jesus’ name. Please let your name be glorified in our lives more now than ever in Jesus’ name.

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