God’s command for people to “love one another” is a central and fundamental thread throughout Scripture, serving as a cornerstone of faith and community. This principle emphasizes selfless, unconditional love, which goes beyond mere affection to a commitment to the well-being of others. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells His disciples, “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” (John 13:34-35 NIV). This passage explicitly links mutual love among believers to their identity as followers of Christ.
When asked about the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replied by giving two. The first is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second, He states, is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He concludes that “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments,” making love the foundation of all righteous living (Matt. 22:37-40).
The love God commands is not a fleeting emotion but a deliberate choice expressed through action. It is characterized by selflessness and requires putting the needs of others before one’s own, just as Christ sacrificed Himself for humanity. This love is to be unconditional and extended to all people, regardless of their actions, background, or personal feelings toward them. The Apostle John later reiterated that this love is to be action-oriented in his first epistle, stating, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).
True love is demonstrated through tangible acts of kindness, service, forgiveness, and compassion. Living out God’s command to love one another has profound implications for how believers interact with the world. Love is the unifying force that builds strong, supportive communities and bridges divisions. It seeks justice and mercy by actively caring for others. Jesus Himself stated that this mutual love would be the primary identifier of His followers, serving as a powerful testimony to the world. Ultimately, God’s command to love one another is a lifelong journey of striving to treat others with the same grace and compassion we have received from God.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “During the month of January, we have focused on the importance of setting goals, especially in the spiritual realm. Last Sunday, when asked about his goals for 2026, Jorge de Jesús Cordero shared his decision to be baptized this year, which filled our entire community with joy.
“Jorge, originally from Venezuela, has been on a constant spiritual quest. Since childhood, he had many unanswered questions about the Bible, but through his time at Ebenezer and the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) group that meets in his home, he has found answers and grown in his faith. As Scripture teaches, faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and this direct contact with it has led him to make a decision for Christ.
“Jorge has a beautiful family consisting of his wife, Yeissy, and their children, Lía and little Ezra. Professionally, he works as a trumpet player in a mariachi band; although his job requires him to be available on weekends, his commitment to the church and his study group have been fundamental to his growth. We ask you to pray for him, for his projects in photography and video, and for his own musical group, but above all, that his relationship with God will grow stronger every day.
“We also joyfully celebrate the return of Sister Avelina after her six-month stay in Guatemala. At 90 years of age, she continues to be an example of faithfulness and clarity of mind for all of us.
“We appreciate your prayers for our congregation. Glory be to God!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! We set a new record for Sunday School attendance and had a strong number for worship, with two first-time visitors. Our youth program is beginning to show results. In November, one person was saved and baptized. This past Sunday morning, during the invitation, three of our young people came forward to accept Christ, and we will baptize them all on Feb. 8. Praise God! To make it even more special, one of them was my great niece. I believe it’s a testament to our youth program, our teachers, and especially to their parents! I praise God over and over for what He is doing. I love seeing the Lord work in our mission. I love watching our kids grow in every way. It has truly been a great day!
“The flooring should be completed this week, with only finishing work remaining, and then we will move on to cabinets, trim, and finish plumbing. It is coming along, and everyone, especially our youth leaders and students, is excited to get into their classrooms.
“We thank you all for your support and especially for your prayers! Please continue, God is answering them in mighty ways!”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “This week we stayed busy with seven small-group meetings, along with our Sunday morning and evening worship services, and we had good attendance at all of them. We are thankful for the continued involvement and growth in our groups.
“Our women’s Bible study completed Women of the Bible Speak, a meaningful study that connected the lives of women in Scripture to our lives today. The ladies are excited to begin their next study and are hopeful to welcome new women to join.
“We also announced a new Sunday morning prayer time before service. Our hope is that this will strengthen our prayer lives, allow us to share burdens and praises, and help further God’s kingdom. Faith Journey has been invited to take part in two community opportunities this month. The Call, a local women and children’s shelter that supports foster and adoptive care, invited us to a pastoral breakfast, and the mayor’s office has asked Faith Journey to offer the invocation prayer at their monthly meeting. We are grateful for these opportunities to serve and connect with our community.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Blessings, brothers and sisters in Christ. Greetings from Northwest Arkansas. At the beginning of the year, we reflect on the plans and challenges that we face as a church. We formally start our prayer meetings on Saturday mornings. In my experience, these are the most important meetings of the church. They are the engine room of the church because we are in a war for souls. Since the beginning of 2026, I have sought to teach the brethren that we must pray again and again, and we shall see a great harvest.
“I was talking with Gonzalo and Sofia, a married couple who came from Chicago and were looking for a church, and this is already their third week visiting with us. They said that they were staying and brought their daughter and granddaughter.
“We have good news! Ashley joins the team of children’s Sunday School teachers. She is a teenager who loves the Lord and has strong biblical conviction.
“We ask for prayer as we record our sermons. Our camera has been damaged for a month, so we now need a new one.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “We had a big week with our groups as both groups had full attendance. Our Garfield Group had its monthly fellowship meal, and it was a full house. They continued their study through Hebrews 11, while the Woodbridge group studied in Ecclesiastes.
“We held another ‘Discover & Prepare Night’ worship service and Bible study at Room 161 this week with increased attendance, and look forward to our ‘Discover and Connect Night’ worship nights coming up. Our next one will be on January 25.
“I was also able to have several meaningful visits in the community and look forward to what this spring holds.”
