LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Friday 25th February 2022
THE SAME COMMANDMENT
Scripture Reading: 1 John 2
Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 1 John 2:7
God’s commandments are both old and new at the same time. They are old because they have been there for a very long time; and they are new because they speak to us today. That is the truth the Apostle John conveys in our passage for today.
The “commandment” that John speaks of in these verses is the command that Christ gave to us to love one another. John says this is nothing new to them but is something they “had from the beginning” and “have heard.”
The Apostle refers to the fact that from the earliest times that the gospel was proclaimed, they had been taught that Christians are to love one another. The Lord’s command for His disciples to love as He loved never grows old. Wherever Christians are, this is what marks us out. In our time the Lord’s word continues to be our command.
Some Christians look at God’s word and think it was written for an older generation who lived in the past. Such Christians always seek for ‘new revelation’ to live by. Some are so eager to try out new ways of Christianity. They talk about power, revelation, and wonders without focusing on the character that Christ said we should focus on.
Sadly, today we have many Christians, and unfortunately even pastors who teach enmity, hatred, and destruction against other Christians. They do so boldly and encourage their followers to seek the destruction of those they call their enemies.
We cannot replace Christ’s command with our own commands. We cannot make excuses for why we should not walk in love.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your command to love never grows old. I commit myself to live my life in your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.