Failing to love

inquiry

In John 15:12-14 Jesus says:  My command is this:  Love each other as I have
loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for
his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.

My question is - if we don't love one another (and there are so many that I
find difficult to love) then I am not doing what Jesus commands.  So now is
Jesus not my friend?  What does it mean for Jesus to NOT be my friend?

response

It is impossible for us to keep Jesus' command.

Now that I have completely shocked you, let's look at God's remedy to this
seemingly impossible situation.

We all love so imperfectly that it is impossible in our own strength for us
to keep this command that Jesus states in John 15:12-14. The only person who
has ever loved perfectly is Jesus. Jesus confirms this in John 15:5 where He
states, "apart from me you can do nothing." However, Jesus does not leave us
alone in our weakness, but instead through our faith and trust in Him, Jesus
comes to dwell in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17) where in essence He
becomes one with us by His Spirit and our lives and purpose become
intertwined (John 14:20). Therefore it is our task to let the Jesus who
loves perfectly and resides in our hearts to live His life through us and
love through us (Jesus can love the unlovable and the people we have a hard
time with personally).

Only Jesus ever lived the Christian life!! However, He wants to live it
again through us. It is our task in life to be living sacrifices (Romans
12:1) allowing Jesus free reign in our life so that the invisible Jesus may
be made visible through us.

Best wishes,