Love One Another (John 13:35)

At the Last Supper, Jesus shared a truth both simple and deeply moving. He did not call His disciples to a vague, distant love for the world. Instead, He declared, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35.

Notice that Jesus could have spoken more generally. He could have said, “Love people, love strangers, love the crowds, love humanity at large.” But He was specific. He was talking to a group of men who knew each other well, who had shared meals, traveled together, had tough conversations, and spent three years side by side through real and spiritual storms.

When we think about Jesus’ call to love, we often focus on people far away, on neighbors down the street, on mission work in distant places, or on acts of kindness for those we barely know. Those things are important. But in that upper room, Jesus was speaking to the people right in front of Him, not to strangers.

Think about the people you spend the most time with: your family, a roommate, a coworker, a close friend, your spouse, or your children. These are the people Jesus meant: the ones who see you in the morning, know your moods, and share your table. His words remind us to show God’s love not just in general ways or big gestures, but also in intentional, specific ways to those closest to us.

Often, it’s this specific, quiet, personal kind of love that shows the world who Jesus really is. This love might mean forgiving a loved one when you’re frustrated, listening to a friend who needs to talk, making a meal for someone who is tired, or extending support when a family member seems down. It could be asking how someone is really doing or giving encouragement when it’s needed most. These small, thoughtful acts may seem simple, but they can reveal Christ’s love in powerful ways.

Don’t take your days for granted. Even more, don’t take the people you love most for granted.

Days go by quickly. The talks we mean to have often get put off. Phrases such as I love you, I see you, and I am proud of you stay inside, waiting for a better moment that never comes. But God isn’t asking us to love people someday. He wants us to love the person in front of us today. If you hesitate, take a deep breath and ask God for courage to speak those words now. A simple prayer like, “Lord, help me not to hold back love today,” can help you act. Don’t wait for a perfect time; choose this moment to share your heart.

This week, try setting aside your worries about what’s happening outside your home. Focus your full attention on the people already with you. Make it a real, intentional goal that the people you love most feel loved by you. Let them know you care. When they speak, listen fully, not just waiting for your turn to talk or distracted by your phone, but truly present.

Ask about their day and really mean it. Sit with them a little longer. Say what you’ve been meaning to say. Notice what they’re carrying and ask if you can help with it too.

As you read Matthew chapters one through four this week, notice how Jesus drew near, entered the world, walked the roads, and called people by name. God’s love has always been personal. He didn’t love humanity from a distance. He came close, sat at tables, and looked people in the eye. Throughout Scripture, this theme repeats. 1 John 4:7-12 reminds us that love comes from God and that if we love one another, God lives in us. Romans 12:9-10 encourages us to let our love be genuine and to outdo one another in showing honor. These passages help us understand what it means to love with deliberate closeness, just as Jesus did.

That’s what He asks of us, too. Not just to love in general, but to love this person, today, in this moment that won’t come again.

Do not let it pass.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:35

Years ago, I realized something that changed everything for me. 💛

The women who healed the fastest — the ones who found their footing again after loss, after heartbreak, after seasons that tried to break them — were never the ones who did it alone.

They were the ones who found their people.

A circle of women who prayed together. Who studied the Word together. Who looked each other in the eye — even through a screen — and said:

“I see you. I am with you. You are not alone.”

That is why I created Bible Chicks.

Every Saturday morning at 8:00AM EST, we gather, virtually, from wherever you are, and we open the Word together. Not to perform. Not to impress. But to grow. To heal. To remember who God says we are.

Women from every background. Every story. Every season of life.

All of them are real. All of them are welcome. All of them are becoming.

If your soul has been hungry for something authentic, this is your invitation. 🕊️

👇 Come join us 🌐 www.duarte.coach/bc

Every Saturday. 8:00AM EST. Virtual.

I cannot wait to meet you there. 💛

With love and warmth, Nancy Duarte, Life on Earth Ministries Founder/Bible Chicks Bible Teacher