John 13:34-35    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.

Jesus gave this command to his disciples and of course it is for us today as well.  Do you think His disciples were always easy to love?  I am sure not and I am sure there were days He scratched His head and wondered about them, but He still loved them.

We are not always what we need to be but God loves us anyhow.  Your spouse, your children and the people you meet may not always meet with your approval either but according to these verses you are to choose to love them.  This is not a suggestion by Jesus it is a command.  We are to love people like Jesus loves us and that is how others will know we are His.  There is no greater way to show who God is to others who don’t know Him than for us to be different in a way that matters to them and everyone wants to be shown kindness and love.

If you are waiting for people to deserve love you could be waiting a long time in some cases especially if they are waiting to feel as though you deserve it too.  It doesn’t do any good to be waiting for people to change, you are to do what you are supposed to do and allow God to work in them to change what He sees fit to change.  Be the change and example you want to see in others, obedience is the place to begin.  Some people are never going to change but we are still called to be who we are supposed to be.  I have found that often when we become who we are supposed to be the people around us change as well, but whether they do or they don’t we don’t answer to God for them.  Be all that God has called you to be.  If there is someone in your life that you are struggling to love ask God to fill you with His love for them.

Quote:  “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.”  Mother Teresa