Cynthia Heald in her book, Becoming a Woman Who Loves, prefaces the book with reading Jesus' words in John 13, where He ramps up the Old Testament command.
Old Testament Command -Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Lev 19:18)
New Testament Command - Love as I have loved you. (Jesus said) (John 13:34,35)
Jesus always did that, raising the bar. It's not just murder, don't hate in your heart (Matt 5:21,22). It's not just don't commit adultery, don't look and lust (Matt 5:27,28). Here He does it again: Don't just love others as yourself, love them the way I have loved you. Now, that's another thing altogether. As Mrs. Heald points it, it's a lot easier to love others as I love myself, but can I even comprehend loving others as Jesus did, as Jesus would.
Old Testament Command -Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Lev 19:18)
New Testament Command - Love as I have loved you. (Jesus said) (John 13:34,35)
Jesus always did that, raising the bar. It's not just murder, don't hate in your heart (Matt 5:21,22). It's not just don't commit adultery, don't look and lust (Matt 5:27,28). Here He does it again: Don't just love others as yourself, love them the way I have loved you. Now, that's another thing altogether. As Mrs. Heald points it, it's a lot easier to love others as I love myself, but can I even comprehend loving others as Jesus did, as Jesus would.
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