Jesus came to tear away every unnecessary barrier, and so should we. The love of God has the power to bring life and bring freedom in a way that will make us, and others, never be the same again. The problem is that we sometimes get so caught up in our own comforts we forget how to do this. But there is help. Jesus left us with clear instructions and examples in Scripture of just how to do this. 

What does the Bible say about loving others?

Jesus is the lead story. In all that we do, in every conversation that we have, whether Jesus’ name is brought up or not, we are a testimony to the love of Jesus. 

Jesus loves love and had a lot to say about the subject and its wide context from romance to friendship. Paul in Galatians 5:6 wrote that even if we forget everything else, the one thing that really counts is faith being expressed in love. Did you get that? If in doubt over what the text is telling you, the default is always to love. 

If we say that we love Jesus but don’t love others, then we are actively disobeying the last commandment Jesus gave us. Jesus told His disciples they would be recognized by their love for one another (John 13:35). He expected them, and us, to follow the example He laid out. We are to use the freedom and the blessings that we have been given to care for others. To love others means to care for them, to feed them, to offer healing and hope, and to clothe them. Loving others means when we see a need we are to fill it. 

Loving isn’t easy

True love is sacrificial. Jesus never said it was easy. Instead, He showed us by getting down on His knees and washing the disciples’ feet and later going to His death on the cross just how hard loving can be. Loving as Jesus commanded is life transforming. If we each loved our neighbors as we were called to, can you imagine how quickly the world would change! 

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