Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Love One Another



“A new command I give you: I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
John 13:34 (NIV)

               The scene is in the upper room. Judas has departed to attend to his plans. Jesus had excused him from the meal. After Judas left, Jesus spoke of His being glorified and of the Father’s glorification as well as His own.           Jesus tells them his time with them is short. He also tells them they cannot follow Him (at that time.) He then gives them a new command: “As I have loved you, love one another.” How do these eleven men manage to carry this out?

               Shortly after this scene, it seems each of them go his separate way. They do this because the message Jesus had tried to give them didn’t make sense. They were grief-stricken. They chose to go to the place where Mary was because something inside them may have told them that they would find peace if they were all together.

               We, in the 21st Century, do the same thing. When something tragic or unhappy happens, believers congregate together to console each other. We send encouragement or condolence cards. These acts are born of love.

               Recently, a lady from our church went home to be with Jesus. She was 98 years old. My visitation partner and I saw her about every other week. When a group from the church went Christmas caroling, her assisted living facility was the second place we visited. She was elated and even had us go down the hall so she could introduce our pastor to one of her friends. Everyone who knew this lady loved her. She had some good stories to tell about her life.


               We know this lady is in heaven with Jesus. Her family has been through some very tough times. God’s  people are praying for them.

6 comments:

  1. Good post Cecelia, it inspires me. Someone asked me to do a blog series about (biblical) friendships... and here you are, writing about the love we should have for one another. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Marja: It is always nice to hear from you. Thank you for your warm comment. We should treasure our friendships. God gives us people as friends to enrich our lives. Blessings to you and yours.

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    2. So sorry to hear about your friend passing, but glad we know she is dancing with Jesus. We need each other's love and help to get us through, don't we?

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    3. Thank you Jeantte: This lady was one of the ones I tried to visit ever two weeks. Yesterday my visitation partner went to visit the ones we see. It didn't seem right not to go see her. But her family knows where she is and I know she is seeing her husband and her son-in-law and telling Jesus about all of us waiting to join her.

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  2. Hi Cecelia! What good work you do on your visits! I know that she appreciated your kindness and faith so much. And you are right, when things are not going well, we do all flock together for support. Thank goodness for our friend and family!
    Blessings,
    Ceil

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    Replies
    1. Ceil: Thank you for your kind words. My visitation partner and I love the ones we see. Blessings to you and yours.

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