How to Love Like Jesus Loved

Years ago I fell on my knees
beside my bed
and begged God
to save me
from myself.

I could not love people.

I had wounded
the ones closest to me.
No apology
could undo the damage.
No promise
could erase the pain.
No effort
could make me
the man I wasn't.

That night
became a turning point-
not because I became loving,
but because I bowed
before the One
who could make me loving.

That confession
opened a door.

It began a lifelong process
of growing deeper
into the Lord,
learning how He loved me,
and how His love
could be expressed
through me.
And slowly, gently,
He began to change
what I could not change
in myself.

I'm still learning.
I still fail.
But Jesus has shown me
that the command
to "love one another
as I have loved you"
isn't a burden-
it's an invitation
to understand His love,
to receive it,
and to let it reshape
the way I love others.

You may not know this
about Jesus-
but every act
of His love
became the pattern
of the love He commands.

The love that knelt
to wash feet (John 13:1-17).
The love that forgave
after the rooster crowed
(John 21:15-19).
The love that carried weakness
without condemnation
(Matt. 26:41).
The love that prayed
for faith not to fail
(Luke 22:32).
The love that laid down
His life for His friends
(John 15:13).

And the apostles
echoed that same love:

"Serve one another" (Gal. 5:13).
"Forgive one another" (Eph. 4:32).
"Bear with one another" (Eph. 4:2).
"Pray for the saints" (Eph. 6:18).
"Walk in love" (Eph. 5:2).

To understand that command,
we must understand His love.
To live that command,
we must allow Jesus
to love through us.

Where do I need
to understand His love
more deeply?

WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME
My love runs out.
His never does.

Father, teach me
how Jesus loved me.
Shape my heart
to let His love carry me
when my love runs out.
Let His love
be expressed through me.
Amen.