John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
When Love Is the Hardest Option
How hard is it to show love to someone you don’t want to love?
It looks different for everyone, but deep down, I think we all wrestle with it. I can think of countless examples from small, everyday annoyances to major, life-altering moments where loving others is far from easy.
But one story recently hit me like no other.
I came across a video of a man who lost his daughter in a drunk driving accident. The footage showed parents of other victims standing in court, yelling at the man who caused the crash. Their pain and anger were raw and heartbreaking and honestly, if I were in their shoes, I would feel the same.
But then the final father stood up.
He was visibly shaken and quiet at first. You could tell it took everything in him not to respond like the others before him. But instead of rage, he offered something unexpected forgiveness and love.
He said that while every part of him wanted to hate the man who took his daughter’s life, he knew that’s not what God would want. He believed God could use even this tragedy to change a life not through condemnation, but through compassion.
It wasn’t weakness. It was strength. A reflection of the kind of love Jesus calls us to even for those we struggle to love. If this man saw that type of forgiveness in his heart, maybe he could see God and develop a relationship further with him.
That’s the moment that made me stop and ask myself: Do I really show love in the small, daily moments when God asks me to?
Breaking Down the Verse
Let’s look at the heart of this verse:
“A new command I give you…”
This isn’t a casual recommendation. It’s not a suggestion or gentle encouragement. Jesus starts with a firm, authoritative tone — “I give you a new command.” That word command carries weight. It demands attention and action. In a world full of personal opinions and shifting values, Jesus doesn’t leave love open for interpretation. He doesn’t say “if you feel like it,” or “when it’s easy.” He commands it — because love isn’t optional in the life of a believer.
This raises the stakes. This isn’t just a good moral idea. It’s a core identity marker of what it means to follow Him.
Let’s look at the heart of this verse:
“A new command I give you…”
Jesus isn’t offering a suggestion. He’s giving a clear, direct command. Love is not optional for believers — it’s a non-negotiable part of our calling.
“Love one another…”
This command sounds simple but is incredibly difficult in practice. It stretches us beyond what feels comfortable or deserved. It challenges us to love not just those who love us, but those who frustrate us, wrong us, or differ from us.
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
This is where the weight hits. Jesus doesn’t leave love up to interpretation. He gives us a model — His own love. The kind of love that forgives betrayal. That washes feet. That sacrifices without conditions.
He’s not asking us to feel warm feelings. He’s asking us to reflect the kind of love that chooses grace over retaliation and mercy over judgment.
Real-World Love
Loving one another sounds good when everything is going your way. But what happens when it’s not?
What about when someone cuts you off in traffic after the worst day at work?
When you lose a game and the other team mocks you?
When someone makes a mistake that costs you deeply — maybe even something as devastating as the loss of a loved one?
The world says it’s okay to hold onto anger in those moments. But Jesus doesn’t.
His command is still the same: Love one another.
Not when it’s convenient. Not when they deserve it. But always.
And that love doesn’t mean pretending things didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean avoiding truth or excusing pain. It means choosing compassion over retaliation, grace over resentment, forgiveness over bitterness.
Today’s Encouragement
Love is a choice. It’s one of the hardest ones you’ll ever make — especially when your flesh tells you someone doesn’t deserve it. But that’s the beauty of it.
Christ loved us when we didn’t deserve it.
He forgave while we were still sinners.
And now, He commands us to follow His lead.
So today, when you feel frustration, anger, or resentment creeping in — pause. Ask yourself:
“Am I choosing love like Jesus chose love for me?”
And if the answer is no — take a deep breath. Ask God for strength. And try again.
You may never feel ready to love your enemy. But Jesus didn’t ask for readiness — He asked for obedience.Let your nourishment come not from fleeting comforts, but from eternal truth.
https://dscple.beehiiv.com/