Love One Another

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34

Happy Valentine's Day! As I read the verse for today, I was glad of the list of exceptions that immediately follows it. No, no, no, there is no such list. How many times have we applied an exception to the Lord's new command when none exists? Verse 35 of this chapter in John reads: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Oh... but reading some Christian comments and statements one must surely be led to read further for that list of exceptions to our Lord's command.

All of us have seen the apparent exceptions such as the bully who picked on another for years and even after the school years had long since passed by. Surely we can grant an exception for that? How about that ex? Surely the one who lied in court and took away your kids deserves an exception to the command to love. We know of course that our Lord granted no authority to us to make exceptions to His command to love one another. Yet, we are tempted daily to do just that.

On this annual observance of love that we call St. Valentine's Day or just Valentine's Day, let us make every effort to remove any old exceptions we may have created to that new command our Lord gave to us. Maybe that boss who contrived to terminate that position we thought was our path to retirement? Nope, sorry, we must love him or her too. I'm glad our Lord did not make exceptions to His rule. After all, like poor Scrooge in the story, I might find that in the eyes of Heaven I was the one most deserving of an exception!

Praise God for His great love!
Bucky