Wednesday, March 30, 2011
John 13:34 "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The night of Jesus' arrest was a night of intense temptation and bitter betrayal--a night when He faced the horrible fact that He would soon be cut off from His Father. Yet with all this pressing on His soul, our beautiful Savior made time to comfort and instruct His fearful little band. In the upper room He taught His disciples many lessons, including a lesson on love.
Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another. The Savior-Master whom we follow is love. His every thought, word, and action are pure love. How could His followers not be people of love?
By the power of the Spirit working through the message of redeeming love, we have been set apart to be people of love. Jesus' commandment to love is a call to live out the new life implanted within us. The Spirit gives us faith. Where there is faith in Christ, love will follow.
Why, then, is there so often a lack of love within Christian homes and congregations? Why so much strife and hurt feelings? Where is the love?!? Sad to say it is so often missing in our dealings with our fellow family members and Christian friends. We allow our sinful nature to rear its ugly head, often forgetting who we are, a people empowered and called to love. What a terrible shame!
Where is the love? Look at Jesus' cross! God's love is written all over the cross! The blood our Savior shed there washes away all sin, including every one of our loveless words, thoughts, and actions. The love of God as seen at Calvary also revives and changes our often selfish and proud hearts, bringing many blessings to our work together as congregations, and our living together as families. " ... Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ..." (Ephesians 5:1).
