e-devo: Crazy Love

If you have enough time read John 13.

A new command I give you: Love one another. John 13:34

Want to do something crazy today? Want to do something a little nutty?

Try this: love someone.

Really! Love someone.

But not just anyone. Some people are easy to love. You were probably already loving them before you began reading this devotion. Rather, we’re talking about those other people or that other person. The one you can’t stand. Or the one you simply try to ignore. The one who has a great gift at annoying you, whether they are trying to or not. Maybe even the one who turned against you or caused you pain. Maybe you can see them right now, maybe you haven’t seen them in years, maybe you might not have a chance to see them again.

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Jesus spoke these words a couple hours after He had showed a token of His love by washing the feet of His twelve disciples – including the two feet which belonged to the man whom He knew was about to leave in order come back with others and to betray Him with a kiss.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. … But love your enemies… Luke 6:32, 35

On that night (and the following day!), Jesus showed them what true love really is. And since then, the crazy thing (the miraculous thing, the relationship changing, the history making thing) is that, by faith, He helps us to do the same.

If a good part of our walk with Jesus (whom we can’t see) is lived out in our lives with people (whom we can see) [see last week’s e-devo below for more on this] then loving them is not some extra little thing that would be nice to do if we could or if we ever got around to it. Rather, this is what life is about! And the difference which faith in Christ makes. This is why we are here – and why He has come.

Want some ideas to share some of this crazy love today?

Maybe washing their feet isn’t the best plan (though if you choose this option let me know how it goes).

Rather, how about seeing them differently – to see them as the image of God they are, even if that image can be hidden at times? (Listen here for more on this: http://www.emmanuelbaltimore.org/sermon/19.)

Or how about actually liking them (I’m still fully convinced that truly loving someone always includes liking them, and that denying this only gets in the way of our love)?

Or how about caring about what is going on in their life – both the good and the bad and lifting this up in prayer (even daily, perhaps)?

And, here is the winner: if they have wronged you, how about forgiving them? Radical thought right! Thank the Lord that He has done and continues to do the same with us. Should we tell them that we forgive them? Maybe or maybe not – but my guess is that it will at least show.

What other ways can you come up with sharing this – His – love today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, at times the call you give me is too great to follow. In these times O Lord help me to deny myself and let the One who now lives in me – your Spirit – lead me to where you would have me go – especially in my relations with the pinnacle of your creation – people – even as flawed as we may be. In your name, Jesus. Amen.