Love Well Today

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another.  This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples –  when they see the love you have for each other. ” John 13:34-35 (The Message)

Deciding what to write about this week confounds me. COVID-19 is still a threat that looms large over our cities as they begin re-opening. Protests and riots are ravaging our nation across the country. Political unrest is at an all-time high. Leaders both inside the church and outside are scurrying to be voices of hope and reason in the chaos, which is so needed. However, I fear the barrage of voices, especially within the church, are so focused on the issues that they are missing the vital question that our congregations need answered. Where is Jesus at in all of this? Of course, the church needs to be leading the way to fight violence, racism, fear, and injustice – NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! However, looming larger over all those discussions need to be voices of hope summoning the world to the foot of the cross, beckoning anyone who will listen to hear that Jesus is near. I am not talking about a “Jesus Band-Aid” that will make everything better. Those of you who know me well, know that slapping Jesus on someone’s pain irritates me to no end! Telling people that Jesus loves them is not the solution; showing the world the love of Jesus is. This will look very different for each of us, but we don’t need to overthink it… simply love in the circle where you are placed. It’s not necessary to manufacture opportunities to love. Follow where Jesus leads; he will show you what to do next. So, where is Jesus at in all of this? He is right where he has always been; right beside us, closer than the air we breathe… waiting. Waiting for us to stop looking up, expecting him to change the world with a wave of his hand, while we sit doing nothing. Waiting for us to start believing his word and exercising “his incomparably great power” (Ephesians 1:19), that is in all of us who believe. Waiting for us to BE his hands and feet in this world, initiating the much-needed change our world needs. Friends, we have EVERYTHING we need to love our world through these recent crises. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, but it does mean we have the power to act and the power to initiate change. The question is, will we do it? Are we willing to love well today? 

For Your Reflection… What will it look like for you to love well in your current sphere of influence?