Challenge for Today:


How many times today have you thought about love? What comes to your mind when you first think of love? For most of us, “love” probably makes us think of a parent, spouse, child, or close friend. Often it’s something much more influenced by the barrage of images and words this information age has created for us. John is telling us that as followers of Christ we are commanded to love one another. God’s love involves a choice or an action on our part. Since love is from God, it’s one of the things that set us apart.

Not only are we commanded to love; we have as our example God’s own Son, who lived as we do in the flesh. I have always been interested in history, and I sometimes try to imagine Jesus in the time before His public ministry began, going through the same day-to-day routines as any other person in that time and place. I imagine Him working at a trade to help support His family, and moving about the markets, shops and homes of His village. I’m sure Jesus encountered people who responded to Him with conflict and discord, people who maybe for no obvious reason at all wanted to give Him a difficult time.

Jesus showed us later, in the more public portion of His life, as seen in the Gospels, how He loved everyone regardless of who they were or how they presented themselves to Him. It’s easy to rationalize not loving certain people we meet each day, but was that Jesus’ example?

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to love as you love. Use me as an instrument of your love to others.