4-6I can't tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed. (The Message)
If you have been reading along over the last few days as we have been looking at the letters of John you might begin to wonder if John has anything else to say but, "love one another." The truth is that yes John says a few other things but he keeps coming back to this without fail. Is it that he didn't know anything else or is it that it was so important that he couldn't emphasis it enough? I believe that John's experience with the people of faith kept bringing him back to this point as both that which expressed the essence of Jesus most clearly and was also the largest short coming of those who believed.
For a parent great joy comes when their child puts into practice that which they have been taught and that is the same kind of joy that John is expressing of his own over the way the people are living. I know that over the years of ministry that I have participated in the greatest joy I have had is when I have seen people put their faith into action and make a difference in the world. It is reward enough to know that I have had some small part in helping them get to that point in their faith journey that they can impact the world through that faith. There are to sides to this equation for John and for us. The first is living out a life of love directly with those around us and the second is helping those around us love people in a more Christlike way beyond us. I believe John would say you can't have one without the other.
Some thoughts to ponder and discuss with others:
- What is it about "loving one another" that you get tired about hearing?
- Do you do a better job of loving others or encouraging others to love better?
- Is there someone in your life who looks at the way you are growing in faith and love and is pleased? Why do you think they pleased?
- Who in your life might you mentor to help them love others in a more Christlike way?
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