The Best Way to Love
Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love.
John 15:12 - MSG
In an age when love seems scarce, there stands an eternal directive from our Lord. Put simply, in a word, that directive is to love. Looking at today’s verse, it’s important to note that Jesus does not whisper this command quietly in a corner. He declares it with authority: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” It is not optional. It is not situational. It is the defining mark of every true disciple, of every true Follower of Jesus Christ, to love.
And Jesus Himself is the standard. And there’s a lot to this kind of love that Jesus is talking about. This is the kind of love that we are to model to each other, to the world around us. His love, the love Jesus loves us with, is patient when we are slow to grow. His love is gracious when we fall short. His love is forgiving when we fail again. His love is sacrificial—willing to lay down comfort, convenience, and ultimately His own life for our good.
This is the kind of love He calls us to embody. This is the kind of love He commands us to share with each other. It is not a warm feeling or a polite smile. It is active. It is costly. It requires choosing kindness when irritation feels easier, offering patience when someone’s imperfections rub against ours, and extending grace when forgiveness feels undeserved.
Yes, this is a tough kind of love, and we can do it. But we cannot love like Jesus unless we stay connected to Him. The strength to love sacrificially, to obey His command, does not come from our willpower—it flows out from us because we are abiding in Him.
When we do love this way, something powerful happens. Jesus says this kind of love becomes the unmistakable evidence that we truly belong to Him. It is the outward sign of an inward reality. It’s the sign that we are truly disciples of Jesus. That we are disciplined Followers of Jesus. That we are born of His spirit.
You see, love has never been rooted in obligation. It grows out of our relationship with Him—out of the nearness, the intimacy, the shared life He invites us into. Jesus calls us to love others with the same self‑giving love He shares with the Father, the same love He has poured out on us again and again.
The truest way to love is simply this: love others the way Jesus has loved you—fully, freely, and sacrificially. And while that kind of love stretches us, He never asks us to offer it in our own strength. He reminds us what love looks like. He reminds us who we belong to. He reminds us that love flows best when it flows from union with Him.
So love—not only as He loved, but because you are joined to Him in intimate oneness. Let His life in you become the life you offer to others. Then carry that love into the world around you. That is the best way to love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to love as You have loved me. Help me draw strength from You so that my love is patient, gracious, forgiving, and sacrificial. Let my life reflect Your heart in every relationship and every moment. Shape me into someone who loves well because I am rooted deeply in You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen...
For Continued Reflection
If today’s devotional has been a blessing to you, you’re welcome to explore a few related resources that may further support your quiet moments with God. One of these is “Devotional Booklets for Your Journey With Him,” a collection of downloadable, Scripture‑anchored booklets designed to help you stay rooted in God’s Word throughout the week. You can find them here.
