The Eleventh Commandment

We all know that there are ten commandments that were given to us by God through Moses. These commandments were intended to govern all mankind from that point on. Prior to that event, there was no written law from God that instructed the people on what they should and should not do. However, once the people were made aware of God’s written laws, they would then be held responsible for obeying God’s commandments. 

There is another command, or an eleventh commandment if you will, since it was given to us by God, that we all need to remember and follow. It was given to us by Jesus in John 13:34-35 where our Lord tells us, “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.”

But how best do we follow and obey this eleventh commandment? Paul gives us all some guidance in Philippians 2:1-4 where he says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

It is interesting how all of God’s commandments center themselves around humility and love. As Jesus said when asked which of the commandments was the greatest, His reply was, “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will grant us the wisdom and guidance to love others as Jesus would have us love them.

Pray that we will value others with humility and compassion. That we will be of service to others, not out of any selfish ambition or vain conceit, but because we are truly placing the needs of others above our own.

Love has always been the centerpiece of God’s plan for all mankind. It is also the focal point of the enemy’s attack against Almighty God. If we are truly part of God’s army. If we truly desire to walk in the Spirit and live a life that is pleasing to God, then loving others must be the centerpiece of how we live each day.  It must become the essence of who we are, because from it will flow an abundance of Spiritual Fruit, which will then bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father.