A New Commandment (NOT a New Suggustion)

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13:34-35

• A church is split apart by church politics after months of name-calling and mud-slinging.  People on both sides of the issue feel betrayed, hurt and slandered.  Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
• A couple enters church on Sunday, obviously not one of us.  Piercings and tattoos set them apart and their ragged clothes prove that they probably could not contribute much to the church budget.  They are not warmly welcomed as other visitors are.  Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
• A church member is having a difficult time with her marriage.  Whenever she is not around, she is the topic of vicious gossip. Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
• At a fellowship event, someone is left to eat at a table alone. Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
• A pastor at a funeral tells the grieving family, "It is too late for the deceased.  Make sure you accept Jesus now before it is too late for you!"  Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
• A pastor fails to meet all of the congregation's expectations.  He/she and his/her family are treated poorly (sometimes horribly) until they feel they have no choice but to search for another call.  Jesus says, "Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

These examples and so much more go on right within our own church walls.  We hurt one another so often, sometimes without thinking - and to our terrible discredit - sometimes with absolute intention.  If we can't love one another as Jesus loved us even among ourselves, how can we show the world we are Jesus' disciples?  How can we expect to be taken seriously in a world that needs love now more than ever?  How can we expect others to "want what we have" if what we have is so unattractive?

We will never win the world for Christ if we don't get this ONE commandment right.

Lord Jesus,
Forgive us.  Daily we fail to love one another.  We gossip and judge and reject.  Help us Lord.  Remind us of your new commandment each time we are faced with the decision to love or to belittle... to love or reject... to love or to hate.  Thank you for loving us even though we will fail again and again.  Amen.

Joys:  a loving church family; good books; lunch with family