Living and Loving the Disciple Life // John 13:35

John 13:34-35 (NIV) | “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Yesterday we looked at how God wants us to be in the details of people’s lives as an expression of love. We see in today’s verses that Jesus indicated how love in the details helps people will know we are His disciples. But what is a disciple? For starters, it is someone who follows Jesus. There is another meaning, though, which also indicates one who comes alongside another. This is precisely the model of the Christian life lived out in discipleship — we are to follow Jesus and know He leads us alongside others so we can point them to Him, too. Let’s consider 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, “All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too” (MSG). So, are you committed to following Jesus? Will you commit to coming alongside those to whom He leads? I pray so, because getting into those details is a prime way to show your love of God and others!