Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
January 3, 2023
Read 1 John 3:11-16
11 This is the message that you heard from the beginning: love each other. 12 Don’t behave like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he kill him? He killed him because his own works were evil, but the works of his brother were righteous. 13 Don’t be surprised, brothers and sisters if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have transferred from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The person who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them. 16 This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Good Morning, Rejoice in the Lord who saves us!
Jesus came and showered us with love. For most of us, it is easy to love those that we like, but when we are asked to love those we don’t it is much more of a challenge. Now, we could put up a great facade and pretend to love one another as we smile and greet each other cordially. But that isn’t what we are called to do.
During Jesus’ walk on the earth, he put the needs of all before himself. John, the beloved disciple, was a witness and recipient of a love that was manifested in ways that he could never have imagined. As such, John spends much of his writings focused on the command to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
John experienced authentic love when Jesus humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples. As family members: parents, siblings, and spouses, we have times when we put the needs of our loved ones ahead of our own. As with many young families, I remember times when I would give up eating lunch out with co-workers, so that I could give my son spending money to use on a field trip. I’m guessing that each of you has your own anecdotes about stories of sacrifice for a family member or even a good friend.
But what about strangers, those we dislike, or those who have wronged us? Most of us struggle to put the needs of this group before our own. Even if we make donations to groups that support those in need, do we give our leftover funds or do we dig deep and give up something for ourselves (sacrifice) to support the least of these?
Jesus gave his own life to save us all. During his earthly ministry, he could have hung out with the Pharisees and Jewish elite and lived the good life while sharing the Word, but what would we have learned nothing from these actions? Jesus walked among the poor, the outcasts, and the sinners (a.k.a. us) and taught us how to love. Jesus did not exclude Judas Iscariot from the foot washing and meal the night that he would betray Jesus, Jesus continued to love him.
Jesus said, “love one another my little children, the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. You sent your son to teach us the meaning of love. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God can inspire hearts to open so that we may see the world through the eyes of love.
Love one another! Pastor Liz