Another Call to Obedience

If you are wondering what a Call to Obedience is, look back at the  June 24, 2021  post.

In scripture we hear the Word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  And Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  The church is told to have the same love, being in full accord and of one mind, which is yours in Christ Jesus who emptied himself in love for us.  And If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Christian love is an un-claiming love.  By this I mean it does not claim for itself. It is a love that considers what is truly good for those around us; we are to love others for their sake.  We do not love others because they love us, or will do what we want them to do, or because they do the right thing.  This is not the love of God who showed his love for us while we were yet sinners.  We are to love with the love of God. Now the church is the breeding ground for such love.  It is not bred on our own.  As we practice this love with each other and together we learn what this love is, it is known and grows and takes form.  Bred here among us, we take it out into the world and love even those who do not love us or love God.