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  Long Island Abundant Life Church 長島豐盛生命教會

John 13:31–14:14

6/11/2012

 
Click here to read today's passage on Bible Gateway.

A New Command
Love one another.  That is how the world will know that we know Jesus.  One could argue that the nation of Israel was set apart from the other nations by the Law.  Jesus says that this is a NEW era:  one in which the people of God will be known by their love.

So....are we?  Are we as Christians known by our love for one another?  If someone were asked to describe LIALC in a single word, would that word be love?  If someone were asked to describe YOU, would "love" be anywhere near the top of the list?

We are not known by our policies, money, nice buildings, wisdom, education, outreach programs, or anything else.  Jesus says that we will be known as His disciples because we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  1 John 4:20 tells it like it is:  "If you say you love God but hate your brother, you're a liar." I know personally that I (and I think we as a whole) have our priorities are out of whack.  When Jesus changes us He transforms us into people that are radically forgiving and loving, not people who are skilled, talented, intelligent, or who "know our rights".  The Bible is clear:  when we chose Jesus, we gave up our rights.  We gave up our own lives to receive something better.  Yet we try to be awesome and smart and somehow end up leaving out "loving". 

I don't really know what else to say.  We should be known by our love and we aren't.  We can only appeal to grace of God to save us, for we are truly miserable sinners.  I think that God's power and grace are the only things that stand a chance at all of softening our hearts, which have been so hard for so long. 

Andrei
6/11/2012 07:22:57 pm

Definitely agree that we often strive for worldly accomplishments, success, and intelligence while ignoring the state of our hearts on matters like love and forgiveness. This post made me think about what Jesus says about forgiving a brother seven times seven.

What does 'great love' that practices 'radical forgiving and loving' look like in our region / society / time period?

I remember something that Uncle Gary said in Sunday school, about comments he receives from some people when he is doing his work advocating for prisoners. People were saying things to him like: 'Hey man, these guys are taking advantage of you.' I forgot exactly what Uncle Gary said in response, but it was something like: 'That's what Christianity is.' And Kevin Kuo added: 'How do those people think Jesus felt?' So, in some sense, can you characterize great forgiveness and love as a form of conscious naivete?

Greg
6/12/2012 06:40:57 am

I don't think I'd call it naivete. That would imply that you don't know what is going on. Jesus said to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves. A Christian might know that their love is being taken advantage of, BUT THEY LOVE ANYWAY. That is what sets us apart. It's good and we should be loving the world and there are many passages about that, but this passage is something a little harder: loving each other. I think it's usually a lot easier to love the broken, needy, and lost than it is to love the gossiping hypocrites in church, but that is what we are called to do and how people will know we are followers of Jesus.


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