Sunday, October 27, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
John 15:12–17

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. (NRSV)

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Reflection

Jesus couldn’t be clearer: “This is my commandment.” Pay attention. You are to “love one another as I have loved you.” It isn’t optional.

Jesus tells us our love should be sacrificial and intentional. Love requires action.

Jesus then really raises the bar — we can only be his friends if we do as he commanded. We don’t set the rules. Jesus wants us to love him and have faith in him, and from that we will desire to do as he commanded — to love one another as he has loved us!

Jesus is our friend. He chose you and chose me. That is a very tall order indeed. That is grace and pure love. And that is our challenge as followers of Christ.

As I was preparing this reflection, I was reading TJ Klune’s new bestseller, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, and was struck when the lead character, Arthur, says, “Hate is loud.”

With this commandment in mind, maybe it is our time, as followers of Jesus, to love loud.

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me when he died on the cross. Now it is our time to do the work of the kingdom on earth.

Love loud.

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Prayer
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. May I truly follow your commandments and love everyone. Help me to lead with love in all I do and say in the ministry of your love. Amen.

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Written by Marc Miller, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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