Today's Reading - Luke 22:31-38, John 13:31-38
Background
As the end drew near, as the supper wrapped up, Jesus engaged his disciples in several ways to prepare them for what lay ahead. John tells us that Jesus laid out a new commandment, one that would be the dominant mandate for the church that his disciples would establish. They were to "love one another."
Unfortunately, after he set out this wonderful command, he then had to give Peter some bad news. Confident that he could follow Jesus to the ends of the earth and endure whatever he had to, assured of his loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom, Peter was shocked to hear Jesus tell him he would deny him three times before the sun came up the next morning.
Luke then tells us of a warning Jesus gave to the disciples about the days ahead, how things were about to change. Scripture was to be fulfilled and Jesus was to become all he had been intended to be.
Unfortunately, after he set out this wonderful command, he then had to give Peter some bad news. Confident that he could follow Jesus to the ends of the earth and endure whatever he had to, assured of his loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom, Peter was shocked to hear Jesus tell him he would deny him three times before the sun came up the next morning.
Luke then tells us of a warning Jesus gave to the disciples about the days ahead, how things were about to change. Scripture was to be fulfilled and Jesus was to become all he had been intended to be.
Devotional - Real Christianity
What is the marker of true spirituality?
To some, it is sound doctrine. A good Christian is someone who has his theology in order and who ticks all the doctrinal boxes. And of course, theology matters. We must be well-grounded in the word of God, able to discern truth from error, right from wrong, good from bad. In a world filled with the enemy's lies, the truth of God's word is not optional. But Jesus did not tell us that the world would know us primarily by our correct doctrine.
To others, the marker of a genuine Christian is some kind of miraculous display of power - be it tongues, or healing, or something else. Again, our God is powerful and he can do anything. Those who deny or doubt God's power or simply ignore its reality are not honoring him. But when Jesus defined his followers, he did not do so on the basis of their miraculous manifestations.
For many the decisive evidence of true Christianity has been following a set of rules. Read this version of the Bible, not those ones. Do these things, don't do those things. Don't drink or smoke or dance or go to the movies. Go to church whenever the doors are open. But it is not adherence to rules that Jesus set as his defining quality.
No, Jesus set a higher standard. He said, in John 13:34-35:
Jesus set a new standard for his disciples, a law different from that the Pharisees tried to enforce. It grew out of, completed, and fulfilled the Jewish law, but it also rendered it practically obsolete. "Love one another." The church is built on love.
God so loved the world...
God demonstrated his love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...
That love that God had for us, a love demonstrated in sacrificial, redemptive love, is meant to be the marker in our relationships with one another. We are to love one another as Christ loved us.
That is why broken relationships, power struggles, church fights, pride, grudges, and anger are so damaging - the betray the identity of the church. The world should look at us and see something that isn't seen in the world at large. They should see love, real love, God's love. When they come into the church and see anger, prejudice, division, rancor, and bitterness, it is no wonder that our churches don't grow, our evangelism doesn't work, and our world continues its march of sin.
Those of us who have experienced the love of God through Christ need to revel in that love and let it flow through us in this world.
To some, it is sound doctrine. A good Christian is someone who has his theology in order and who ticks all the doctrinal boxes. And of course, theology matters. We must be well-grounded in the word of God, able to discern truth from error, right from wrong, good from bad. In a world filled with the enemy's lies, the truth of God's word is not optional. But Jesus did not tell us that the world would know us primarily by our correct doctrine.
To others, the marker of a genuine Christian is some kind of miraculous display of power - be it tongues, or healing, or something else. Again, our God is powerful and he can do anything. Those who deny or doubt God's power or simply ignore its reality are not honoring him. But when Jesus defined his followers, he did not do so on the basis of their miraculous manifestations.
For many the decisive evidence of true Christianity has been following a set of rules. Read this version of the Bible, not those ones. Do these things, don't do those things. Don't drink or smoke or dance or go to the movies. Go to church whenever the doors are open. But it is not adherence to rules that Jesus set as his defining quality.
No, Jesus set a higher standard. He said, in John 13:34-35:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
God so loved the world...
God demonstrated his love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...
That love that God had for us, a love demonstrated in sacrificial, redemptive love, is meant to be the marker in our relationships with one another. We are to love one another as Christ loved us.
That is why broken relationships, power struggles, church fights, pride, grudges, and anger are so damaging - the betray the identity of the church. The world should look at us and see something that isn't seen in the world at large. They should see love, real love, God's love. When they come into the church and see anger, prejudice, division, rancor, and bitterness, it is no wonder that our churches don't grow, our evangelism doesn't work, and our world continues its march of sin.
Those of us who have experienced the love of God through Christ need to revel in that love and let it flow through us in this world.
Father, may this world see you and your love through me and through us day by day.
Think and Pray
What would it look like for the love of Jesus to be displayed in your life daily?
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