Are you wondering why the world seems to be in chaos? Do you look around and see the hate? Would you like to fix it? Are you willing to do what it takes to fix your own little world? Will you give your own preferences? Will you love without conditions?
It isn’t hard to look around and see all the discord. We see politicians fighting and arguing like two-year-old’s. We see clashes between racial and ethnic groups. We see finger pointing going on in our workplaces. Everyone puts up deflector shields to deflect the blame to someone else.
How do we end it? When will it end? Those are questions many people are asking. Unfortunately, we can’t legislate morality. We can’t pound people over the head with a sledgehammer until they quit their bigotry. It simply doesn’t work. For some, the more you try push them into being a better person, the worse they get.
So, what to do? The first thing on our agenda is to love one another. We, Christians, must stop our own bickering back and forth. We may have differing opinions. We may not see eye-to-eye on the interpretation of the Bible. Yet, we absolutely need to agree on one thing—love one another as Jesus loves us. Otherwise, we are living lies and we have no chance to change this world for the better.
Jesus clearly states in today’s passage that by loving one another we show the world we are His disciples. Otherwise, we are no better than the world. Even pagans love those who love them. We aren’t any different, if we don’t love one another despite our differences. We are no better, if we don’t love all races and ethnic groups. We are no better, if we don’t love those of differing political opinions.
Jesus has called us to love as He loved. He didn’t say we must like what everyone does. He didn’t say we must all be exactly the same. He did say to love—to love one another unconditionally, with grace, mercy, and a forgiving heart. As we love one another, we become peacemakers, reconcilers, healers, and a true representative of Jesus on this earth.
I pray we all decide to love as Jesus loved. I pray we give up our hatred toward one another. I pray each one of us loves in order to be a peacemaker and Jesus’ representative. Choose love. Be like Jesus. Give up your selfishness. See others as Jesus sees them. Be a peacemaker. Be a disciple of Jesus.
John 13:24-25 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love oneanother. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Marty Pressey 