Day Eight
John 13:34
I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognise you as my disciples
Reflection
Jesus gave his disciples something beautiful. He gave them something new. He gave them a commandment to love one another just as He loved them. Jesus told them that this was the way people would know they were his disciples: their love for one another. Jesus didn't say they will know you are my disciples by the Christian bumper stickers on their donkeys, or a golden cross around their neck, or a nice shiny bible in their hands, or even by going to church. No, love was the way.
There is nothing wrong with having Christian bumper stickers, gold crosses, nice bibles, going to church, etc., but if we don't love one another as Jesus has loved (and still loves) us, we are wasting our time and would be better off removing the bumper stickers, taking off the crosses, and start reading the bibles we have and putting the words of Jesus into practice: Love! Love God, love one another. Doctrine is important, but I would much rather see a simple, loving Christian who may not understand a lot of deep theology than a scholarly Christian who is not a loving person. I think Jesus would rather see that too.
Prayer
Lord, help me to love. Transform my weak heart with your own loving Heart. Expand my heart to embrace all my brothers and sisters. Help me to forgive, to surrender to your grace, and to be a pure vessel of your merciful love to the world in my thoughts, words and actions.
Amen.
