10/3- Friday- John
13:34,35, 15:12- 34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 12My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater
love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Bonhoeffer: “Not what
a man is in himself as a Christian, his spirituality and piety, constitutes the
basis of our community…Our community with one another consists solely in what
Christ has done to both of us.”
Thoughts:
Christianity is a team religion. While
it is possible to be a Christian in isolation (in exile, in sickness or nursing
home, or prison), ideally we are better together. We are a religion not of things to do or
commandments to obey as much as a faith of love. Love involves others- calling us out of
isolation to work together, to help those who are weak. Love means laying down our lives- as Jesus
did for us. This does not mean martyring
our bodies needlessly. But it does mean
thinking of and living for others more than ourselves. Team work means knowing our team, trusting each other, using the different talents and abilities we have to compliment each other. As we love each other and work together,
it attracts people to us. If we can love
each other despite our differences, then we are showing the world we are His
disciples.
Suggested Mission: Send someone an email in the church that you do not know well, thanking them for their work for the church- maybe an elder or deacon.
Prayer: Lord, let
your love rule me. Help me to learn to
love you, neighbor and enemy more than I love myself.
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