Morning Reflections: A Gentle Start with Daily Bible Verses

The original thirteen colonies took one hundred and twenty-six years to finally unite under a single constitution. In our last episode, we talked about finding hope beyond the fog of division and confusion. Today's reading gives us the one command that shows us the way through. A reading from the Gospel of John, chapter thirteen. “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.” A new command.

That word "new" is important. It’s easy to miss. The command to love your neighbor wasn’t new at all. That was an ancient rule. So what makes this one different? The difference is the standard. It’s not "love your neighbor as you love yourself" anymore. The new standard is higher. It’s more specific. Jesus says, "As I have loved you." Here’s what that means for your day. It means the measure of our love isn't our own feelings. It's not our own capacity. The measure is His example. It’s a love that serves. A love that kneels down and washes feet.

A love that gives without asking what it will get in return. It’s not a transaction. It’s a gift. And this love is an action. It’s a verb. Jesus says, "Love one another." He doesn't say "feel love for one another." Feelings come and go. They are unreliable narrators of our lives. But an action… an action is a choice. Here’s what that looks like in the middle of a busy week. It looks like putting your phone down when someone is talking to you. It looks like making the coffee for your spouse or partner, even when it’s not your turn.

It looks like letting the other car merge into traffic, even when you’re in a hurry. These aren't grand, heroic gestures. They are small, concrete choices. They are love in action. And finally, this love is our identifier. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Think about that. The one thing Jesus says will mark his followers—the sign that proves who we belong to—isn’t a bumper sticker. It isn’t a piece of jewelry. It isn't even the right answers to theological questions. The defining mark is love.

It’s the one uniform we are asked to wear. It’s how the world is supposed to recognize us. When people see you, do they see your political party first? Do they see your job title, or your nationality, or your wealth? Or do they see someone who loves with a patience and a grace that doesn't quite make sense? That’s the goal. That’s the work for today. To make love the first thing people see. The world tells you that you are what you accomplish. You are what you own. You are what you control. This verse offers a different identity.

You are how you love.