Today’s scripture: John 13:31-35 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Keith Phillips):
I love Jesus very, very much, even sacrificially. A number of years ago I took a spiritual gifts inventory, similar to but different from the one our church uses in Thriving in Christian Community: Discipleship 102. I was surprised, only because I hadn’t anticipated that it would be among the list, to learn that one of my top spiritual gifts was the gift of martyrdom. But I wasn’t surprised because I really do believe that if so called, I would be willing to die for the Lord. In a way, my entire life as an adult in ministry has been the gift of my life in this world to him. Martyrdom, however, is a gift I’ll be using only once.
But loving others — that doesn’t come so easily for me, and I’ve spend this past week ruminating about that. I’d really like to be able to love others as Jesus loves me, but there’s a whole lot of people whom I don’t even like, and not all of them are Republican politicians. What’s wrong with me? As much as I love Jesus, why can’t I be obedient to that one command that he gave at the Last Supper: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”
“O how I love Jesus. O how I love Jesus. O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.” The key to my love of Jesus is his sacrificial love for me, first. In coming to know him, I’ve realized how significant it was for God to choose to become a human like me and then to be willing to die, forgiving and accepting all humanity, including me. In coming to trust him, I’ve realized that although often at the time I do not see God’s loving hand at work in my life (sometimes it feels more like a disciplining hand), God is at work in my life for my good. In coming to love him, I’ve realized that what God wants from me is a creative collaboration so that I can become more God-like.
But no one, absolutely no one, has loved me like Jesus. No one has loved me unconditionally; no one has loved me sacrificially. So I generally don’t respond to others with the same love I have for Jesus. Because people have hurt me and betrayed me, I’m often defensive and guarded because I don’t like being hurt and betrayed, and don’t want to be hurt and betrayed again. But you know what? I don’t think Jesus liked being hurt or betrayed either.
Thought for today: So here I am, Jesus. Since you transformed my life by sacrificially loving me, won’t you transform the lives of those around me by loving them through me? May I be open enough to your Spirit and trusting enough of the power of your love to risk sacrificially in loving others as you have loved me. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.