What are the distinguishing characteristics of love? We may have a tendency to emphasize the emotional aspects of love to the detriment of commitment and follow through. The Greek language reveals the paucity of the English language to express the various nuances of love. The Apostle John describes the nature of agape love which is a love that seeks to give rather than to get. This type of love is manifested in God and is demonstrated through our behavior:

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. (2 John 6)

The the word walk is used metaphorically to describe our behavior. Does our walk match talk? The adage is true, “More is caught than taught.” As we examine the context of this verse, we see that John was not introducing a new commandment, but he was reminding them of the teaching of Jesus:

Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2 John 5)

What was this new commandment? Jesus had given them that commandment in the upper room before He was crucified:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Jesus indicated that this was the distinguishing characteristic of His disciples – that they would love one another as He had loved them. Later on that evening, Jesus taught them that our love is demonstrated by our obedience to His commandments:

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21)

How can we say we love God, if we disobey His commandments? We learn that we do not violate the laws of God without suffering the consequences – sooner or later. John warned us that if do not adhere to Jesus’ teaching, then we do not have God:

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son (2 John 9)

We must remember that Christ showed His love by dying for us and we show our love by living for Him and keeping His commandments. If our heart is right, then our feet will be swift to carry out His commandments. Augustine summarized this truth well, “Love God and do as you please.”