May, 2, 2016
“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 Message
Why does He keep on doing it? He clears away all the obstacles .. promises a future .. protects with His name .. and then watches as we turn our backs on Him time and time again. Then the Lord says and does the very opposite of what “we” would do: He declares that He loves you with “an everlasting love”. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve run off .. or who you’ve run off with .. He keeps calling .. pursuing .. and pouring out His love. Jesus raises the bar even higher when He tells His disciples that they are to “love one another .. in the same way I loved you”. It is intensely personal. Much of your personal history is affected by some form of love. But Jesus defines love “as He loves you”. He doesn’t describe a feeling but an action grounded in His life. That kind of love gets noticed by outsiders. They will recognize that you belong to Jesus .. you follow Him .. and that He is now the center of your life. His command was clear: love like I love you. Do you find yourself holding back? Are you experiencing the love of Christ in your own life? Or are you living out of your head knowledge. Jesus intends for you to know and experience His love in a very real way. He even goes so far to say that others will describe the love they see in you and others as originating in Jesus. The love of Christ is life-changing. It’s home for the lost .. security for the lonely .. and life for the unloved. It takes real effort to reach out to stories disconnected from Christ. It is both an intersection and interruption of your schedule. God knows exactly the moment you are ready to receive and encounter His love. He’s not holding back. He loves you too much to play such a game. But He doesn’t hold back his new command either. A disciple of Jesus loves like He does. It only takes a moment …
“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NASB
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Recognizable Disciples following Jesus (kchesterp1@gmail.con) (CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE AND KATIE’S 1RST YEAR ANNIVERSARY. )
