It is always good to be reminded and encouraged to love one another. It is something that we need to learn daily.
Just some additional thoughts; I found some other definitions what it means to take up the cross:
Therefore, "Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called "dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. http://www.gotquestions.org/
The multitudes that followed Christ were convinced that He was going to bring a glorious kingdom to earth, freeing them from the oppressive Roman rule. Even His own disciples were thinking this way (Luke 19:11). Misunderstanding the prophecies, they were shocked when He began to talk about death to self and carrying the cross (Luke 9:22). They left Him in droves because of these teachings. Similarly, believers today misunderstand the call of Jesus as a call to health, wealth and prosperity.
http://www.compellingtruth.org
(John 13:34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Here we see that it is a command to love one another and not optional
Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
May the Lord give us daily His strength to do that and bring Glory to Him. Blessings!
