Rev. Richard Smith
March 6, 2023
| John 15:12, 14, 17 Words Of Jesus ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you…You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other. |
In the adult Sunday School class I teach here at Frankfort First Methodist, we talked today (March 5) about the characteristics of God-grounded love; of both God’s love of us and our expected love of others.
I asked the group to call out single words that define the essence of this love. They came up with a marvelous list. The words they offered were:
Caring
Compassionate
Unconditional
Accepting
Appreciation
Encouraging
Forgiving
Understanding
Selfless
Empathetic
I think you would agree this is an excellent list; that it for the most part is a pretty comprehensive list of the nature of God-grounded love.
Now the focus of our conversation this morning, first, was that these words describe God’s love toward each of us; toward humanity. This is the way our loving, caring, and merciful God relates to his children; all of his children,
Then, secondly, these words describe the way Jesus calls us to relate to others. Love God and love others were the bedrock commandments of Jesus. In the scripture text noted herein, we find Jesus making clear that if we are going to be in relationship with him, then we need to love others. And not just any ole’ love, but love like his love…”as I have loved you”.
So, as you review these words defining love, give thanks that God loves us so richly and so profoundly. Then get ready to let God empower you (and me) to be vessels of Jesus-style love into the lives of others; day in and day out!!
