God commands us to Love one another...Today's Scripture:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13: 34-35
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, which would be the Law for thousands of years. These commandments were simple and direct. Among other things, the people of Israel were to have no other gods; they were to avoid robbery, murder, and adultery, and they were to honor their mothers and fathers.
Even though there were only ten commandments, they were difficult to follow. Throughout the Old Testament, God's people repeatedly broke his laws and experienced the consequences of their actions. Jesus came to earth to renew God's covenant, but this time with the entire earth. And Jesus came teaching a new commandment: "Love one Another."
Although this may sound simple, it's the hardest thing to do, particularly when we understand the commitment needed to follow the second part: "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
How did Jesus love us? By coming from heaven to save us, and dying for us on the cross.
Following Jesus' new commandment to love means that we must be willing to lay down our lives for others. So how have we done in some two thousand years since Christ taught this new commandment? How are we doing today? Not very well.
People still fight, rob, and steal (as two of my Fairfax police friends Brad & Buzz Weeks can attest), and nations still engage in wars against other nations. Even churches, the places where one might expect that Jesus' and the agape love - I shared about in Friday's blog - would remain supreme, there are political fights and turf battles that seem more petty than some of the struggles outside the church. In some churches, division over styles of music can lead to all-out "worship wars," with those who prefer traditional hymns attacking those who prefer more contemporary worship choruses. I hear from coworker daily about churches from all denominations loosing sight of God's vision. In others, disagreements about how money is raised and spent can be allowed to weaken the bonds of love.
Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." If that's the case, people looking at the church may be justified in wondering if those who call themselves Christians are truly his disciples. So what can we do now to make Christ's new command a reality in our lives? We can't erase two millennia of religious infighting and hatred overnight. But with each new day, we can begin living our lives as if love mattered.
Selah people' and friends please know that it could involve big things. One powerful example of this love was apparent when relatives of victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center forgave the terrorists who were responsible for killing nearly three thousand people. It could involve small things, too. When you're driving your car like I was last night heading to UNC hospital and someone just pulls in front of you, can you forgive him for his rudeness and lack of ability to drive and even better yet, pray for him? At church or outside his wall I challenge each of us to remember, that living as if love mattered means practicing charity toward those who have different views about music, money, politic or other people. Let us follow this new command from Christ and truly "Love one another!"
"Peace be ours as we live more like Christ."
Your pastor,
Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)
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