Suggestion or commandment? Do we know the difference between suggestion and commandment. John 13:34 and 35, which is our Bible Boost for today, Jesus says, “A new command I give to you…LOVE ONE ANOTHER. As I have loved you so must you love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
So is that merely a suggestion or a commandment? If Jesus’ statement is a suggestion that merely means he is hinting, or bringing up an option for our spiritual life and spiritual ministry. You know, kind of like, if you want to you can but if it’s not convenient then you don’t have to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, remember friends, Jesus is talking to a group of guys that has disappointed him in the past and will probably disappoint Him in the future. In this setting it is the last supper. Gathered around the table is a liar, a cheater, a betrayer, a denier, and all of them, when Jesus needs them the most, will flee and reject Him when He is arrested.
So, is Jesus saying to these men, "if you have time, if no one disappoints, if you get around to it, love each other as I have loved you". Well, friends, that is a big resounding NO NO NO!
Here’s the definition of commandment…"it is not optional…it is a mandate". There is no hint, none, zilch, nana, zero, of opting out. Since Jesus said, this is a commandment, there is no opportunity to say, ‘well, let’s talk about it’, "let’s form a committee and discuss it", "if I feel like it", or "if they act like me, dress like me, talk like me", "or go to my church". NO. NO. NO. IT IS A MANDATE. It is not a suggestion but a commandment.
Jesus is telling, all of us Christians, that no matter who offends us, disappoints us, betrays us, cheats us, or even rejects us…the commandment from the King of Kings and Lord of lords is still there in red in the red letter edition of the Bible…Love One Another, the commandment.
Do you remember where He was and what He did before He said these words…even with all those guys around Him: denier, betrayer, rejectors…remember? Yep, HE WASHED THEIR FEET. The King of kings and Lord of lords placed Himself in position to SERVE to show them His love for them.
Let’s look at John 13:1, “…having loved his own who were in the world he showed them the full extent of his love”. Loving others is not just saying it or talking about loving others but it is demonstrating it.
So friends our Bible Boost for today, is for us to look around. There are golden opportunites all around for us to follow this command, not suggestion, of our Lord Jesus. The command is, ‘love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34-35.
Praying that God will give you and me the courage to risk and reach out to love others.
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Eyes of Jesus
Eyes of Jesus
The story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet has always spurred my thinking. It has especially since we have entered into the time of year of giving and receiving.
I was wondering, as I read the story, what were the disciples thinking. The towel and basin of water were undoubtedly at the door. It was the custom of every house and every guest room to place these items by the door. So, I believe, it is a logical assumption to say that the disciples saw these items as they entered the upper room. But, equally obvious is that the thought of any one of them using them personally did not enter their minds.
However, when Jesus saw these items, He apparently saw them from a totally different perspective than His companions.
Perhaps Peter spoke for all of them when he said, 'thou shall never wash my feet.' Such a task was too utterly debasing for him to even consider, and he wrongly assumed that Jesus would never use them. He saw the same things Jesus saw, but Peter saw them differently.
Virtually everything Jesus saw, He saw as a means of ministry. Remember, He said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He came not to be served but to serve. When He saw a boat He thought of how to use it to help others. When He saw a small lunch of fish and bread...yep! Your right. He thought of others. All that He saw, He used as a vehicle to meet needs or teach a spiritual truth.
How differently most of us think. When we see these items (think shopping) we have an inclination to think first of ourselves (we say, boy, I wish I could have that) rather than how it could meet the needs of others. I'm guilty.
So, maybe this should be our morning prayer, every morning, "Father, give me the eyes of Jesus". Look around. What do you see? How can those things help others?
Jesus even saw people in the same purposeful and constructive way. Think of the woman at the well. When He met her He didn't see her as a vehicle to satisfy some manly selfish urge, rather as someone who could bring an entire town to salvation.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, "therefore, if any one be in Christ, they are a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
All things? Yes even our eyes.
Let us make this our prayer, "Father, help us to see through the eyes of Jesus".
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
The story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet has always spurred my thinking. It has especially since we have entered into the time of year of giving and receiving.
I was wondering, as I read the story, what were the disciples thinking. The towel and basin of water were undoubtedly at the door. It was the custom of every house and every guest room to place these items by the door. So, I believe, it is a logical assumption to say that the disciples saw these items as they entered the upper room. But, equally obvious is that the thought of any one of them using them personally did not enter their minds.
However, when Jesus saw these items, He apparently saw them from a totally different perspective than His companions.
Perhaps Peter spoke for all of them when he said, 'thou shall never wash my feet.' Such a task was too utterly debasing for him to even consider, and he wrongly assumed that Jesus would never use them. He saw the same things Jesus saw, but Peter saw them differently.
Virtually everything Jesus saw, He saw as a means of ministry. Remember, He said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He came not to be served but to serve. When He saw a boat He thought of how to use it to help others. When He saw a small lunch of fish and bread...yep! Your right. He thought of others. All that He saw, He used as a vehicle to meet needs or teach a spiritual truth.
How differently most of us think. When we see these items (think shopping) we have an inclination to think first of ourselves (we say, boy, I wish I could have that) rather than how it could meet the needs of others. I'm guilty.
So, maybe this should be our morning prayer, every morning, "Father, give me the eyes of Jesus". Look around. What do you see? How can those things help others?
Jesus even saw people in the same purposeful and constructive way. Think of the woman at the well. When He met her He didn't see her as a vehicle to satisfy some manly selfish urge, rather as someone who could bring an entire town to salvation.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, "therefore, if any one be in Christ, they are a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
All things? Yes even our eyes.
Let us make this our prayer, "Father, help us to see through the eyes of Jesus".
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
Pray pray pray
Prayer…
Prayer is the essence of the Spiritual life without which all ministry loses its meaning. It is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind…..To pray is to unite ourselves with Jesus and lift up the whole world through Him to God in a cry of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and mercy….Most of all, prayer is the way to become and remain part of Jesus mission to draw all people to the intimacy of God’s love.” by Henri Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
pray for our families, our congregations, our communities...Pray for America!
Praying fervently,
Leonard
Prayer is the essence of the Spiritual life without which all ministry loses its meaning. It is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind…..To pray is to unite ourselves with Jesus and lift up the whole world through Him to God in a cry of forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and mercy….Most of all, prayer is the way to become and remain part of Jesus mission to draw all people to the intimacy of God’s love.” by Henri Nouwen, The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life.
pray for our families, our congregations, our communities...Pray for America!
Praying fervently,
Leonard
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