Good morning,
Right
now the world scene reminds me of a well written book or a powerful
movie. It’s full of intrigue and power plays that keep the story line
intensely complex and full of unexpected twists and turns in God’s story
line of time. Of course, this kind of tension is new to most of us,
but not new at all to the overall course of God’s plan for time and
eternity. The Bible and the most ancient books on the history of our
civilizations are full of all kinds of plots and plans that nations have
developed to conquer and control their enemies. In more recent times,
two world wars and the spread of power based religions have set the
scene for another thrilling chapter in God’s plan to reach the whole
world with the Good News of God’s love for a rebellious population whose
story began with Adam and Eve.
The Apostle John was all too
aware of how this story unfolded in his life time as the Romans ruled
his world with ruthless efficiency. In fact John’s personal story began
in the Gospels when he and his brother James were given the title ”Sons
of thunder” by Jesus himself.(Mark 3:17) These two brothers also were
the same two who wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans
who wouldn’t give them a place to stay for the night. (Luke 9:54) By
the time John got around to writing what the Lord had taught him through
the years of his challenging life, he gives us a very different view of
what God has in mind for the life style of those who belong to the
family of God. He never forgot what Jesus told his disciples, what they
were to do that would change the hearts and minds of a confused, hate
filled world. Their marching orders were, “Love each other.” Jesus
showed his disciples what he meant when he willingly died on the cross
for those who hated him and did their best to defeat the God of the
Universe. Jesus said that they, and we, are to love our brothers and
sisters in the faith just like he loved his followers then. It’s hard
to love God’s kids when they keep on sinning and doing painful and
foolish things. What John learned was that the only way he could live
like Jesus said, was to depend on the Holy Spirit to do through him what
he could never do himself. Jesus made it clear that really loving our
spiritual family would prove to the world that we really are part of the
family of God. Dear Lord, would you please help us to grow up in our
love for one another.
John 13:34 So now I am giving you
a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you
should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the
world that you are my disciples.”
Roy Wisner
