Listen

We love because God first loved us. Those who say, “I love God” and hate their brothers or sisters are liars. After all, those who don’t love their brothers or sisters whom they have seen can hardly love God whom they have not seen! This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also.

1 John 4:19-21

Think

In John 21, Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” In word, Peter nails the correct Sunday-School answer: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Yet Jesus asks again – twice more – and eventually Peter’s feelings are hurt, perhaps thinking that Jesus doesn’t trust his word.

What would our Christian journey be like if instead of a defensive posture, assuming Jesus doesn’t trust that we are living out God’s love, we would adopt a posture of challenge – that Jesus is constantly calling us to love better?

Like in the exchange with Simon Peter, when Jesus says, “Feed my sheep,” the same message rings through in this passage of 1 John. Our love for God is shown in the ways we love one another. Anything less than that proves that we might not love God as much as our Sunday-School claim.

Daniel Potter

Pray

God, I love you so much. And I love the people you’ve placed in my life. Help me to show both of these things through my actions today; that each thing I do or say would bring your love into the world a little more each day. Amen.

Go

Guide me in your love today, O God.

Awaken my mind,

Strengthen my feet,

Empower my heart,

Enliven my spirit.

Lead me in the way of Jesus!

Amen.