What Does Love Require?

OK, I have finished the book "better decisions, fewer regrets".  It is a book that suggests five questions we ask as we make decisions. Maybe I have mentioned the first four, maybe not. I know I talked about being honest and my story in the last few posts. Here they are as Andy gives them: 1. Am I being honest with myself, really? 2. What story do I want to tell?  3. Is there a tension that needs my attention?  4. What is the wise thing to do? And number 5.  What does love require of me? I think I have mentioned at least briefly the first 4 in recent posts. What does love require of me?  I recommend reading the book.  I write these posts to meditate and review what I am reading and thinking about. I guarantee I am not as good a writer as Andy is.  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. Philippians 2:3-4. "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.  As I was thinking about this I know Andy mentioned the second passage above but I am not sure without going back through the book if he mentioned what Paul said to the Philippians.  But I think both scriptures fit this last question. Or support it.  If we do what loves requires it may or may not be best for us but it will be the best for someone else.  I think this is an area we as Christians need to do better at. Love one another as Jesus loved us.  Jesus gave us the ultimate example when he died on the cross for our sins. It was love in action. Love is what is lacking in our world today. In my heart and in yours.  Maybe we do OK at times but I'll bet we can all find times when we didn't love as Christ loved us. Our culture is all about what is best for us.  Listen to a lot of advertisements and what do you hear? Get everything you can get. It certainly isn't about doing what is best for others.  I could help myself a lot by considering the first 4 questions in my decision making. But the 5th question transforms our lives into the image of being Christlike. In humility value others above yourself. Look to the interests of others. Love one another as Jesus loved us. This is way beyond the ten commandments.  Then Jesus says by this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. I think I heard there are about 69 "one another" scriptures in the Bible. Jesus came to do something new and replace the old system of laws and regulations.  The Jews had some 600 plus regulations explaining the ten commandments.  Jesus gives us one commandment and if we could follow just this one new commandment Jesus is giving us we would change our world.  What does love require? What does loving those around us as Jesus loved us require. I know I fall short. God help me. God bless, LVZ.