Love

 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
2 John 1:5 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2jn.1.5.ESV

There's no real discrepancy between the old and new testaments. The old testament commands us to love God and one another. The new testament motivates us: we love because God first loved us.

It sounds so simple: 'all you need is love' as the Beatles sang. Of course, it's more complicated than that. 'Love is love' is a popular slogan nowadays, but it's essentially meaningless, suggesting that love is whatever you want it to be: failing to define it clearly.

Even in the love of God, it needs to be defined. John goes on to warn about deceivers who dent that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If we don't love the One True God, the god we think we love is demonic.

Lust isn't love. Love isn't just a feeling of attraction that may or may not be legitimate. Love ultimately is prepared to lay down its life for the object of its love.

'Loving heavenly Father, please help us to love You and one another as You have loved us. In Jesus' name, amen'

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