November 14, 2017

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”John 13:35 Christian Standard

There is no way to anticipate how the love of Christ will define another life. God alone knows the history and potential of all the ‘broken and dislocated pieces’ inside a person. The disciples were hardly ready for such a command: to love as Jesus had loved them. That was to be their definition of love. How would they measure how much love was needed or required?  How could such a command threaten every earthly kingdom and government right up to present day. Yet Jesus didn’t hold anything back from these ordinary men. His words .. His walk .. and the indwelling weight of His life would be the defining characteristics that they were His disciples. It’s the same today.  This same love that Jesus passed on to his disciples hasn’t changed in two thousand years. It’s purposeful: to love just as Jesus has loved you. It’s personal:  No one finds their way to Christ without love. It’s impossible: You can’t love like this unless Christ lives in you. You just don’t have enough inner strength to sustain this simple command. Jesus attaches your identity to how you love: you’ll be recognized as a man or woman who belongs to Him. They will recognize you, just as you recognize it in another. It doesn’t take long to realize that this radical love that Jesus gave away doesn’t work well through half-hearted gestures or good intentions. It’s always going to be a mystery .. but a mystery that leaves irrefutable evidence that a cross reveals how far He has loved you and an empty grave reveals how far your love can reveal Him. You’re to be the evidence: your life .. your walk .. and the weight of His life in you. It only takes a moment …

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to followers of Jesus. (kchesterp1@gmail.com)