Verse of the Day 2/14

Verse of the Day 2/14    

John 13:34-35

New International Version

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today is a day where love will be expressed perhaps more than any other day across the country, in the form of cards, texts, emails and notes attached to flowers given to celebrate the event. Few will probably carry out love to the extent that Jesus states here in today's verses.

In this passage Jesus speaks of this love while predicting the denials of Peter. It could not have come easy, but that is how this love is. It will be hard at times.  It is a love that shows devotion, compassion and mercy as can only be provided through the grace and power of Christ and the power of the Spirit working in us. It is a love with weight behind it. It is a love that survives through "thick and thin".

I'm reminded of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, while not using the word love, the verses convey another quality of love, that of renewal day by day in spite of the "momentary troubles" of life.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 New International Version  16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

The love of God is greater far
  Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
  And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
  God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
  And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
  How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints' and angels' song.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

John 13:31-38

New International Version

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"

Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!