loved by God

I think it's fair to say that we all want to feel loved...by our families, by our friends and by a 'special someone'.

Today's passage from John 15:9-11 is part of a whole speech from Jesus that has come to mean a lot to me. It's from his last 'pep talk' to his disciples before he was led off to die. After their last supper together, they went and walked to the Mount of Olives, on of Jesus' favorite places to teach them. I can imagine Jesus feeling kind of anxious. He knows what's about to happen and he also knows that his disciples just really aren't entirely ready for it. He knows that Judas is about to betrya him. He knows that Peter is about to deny him. He even knows that Thomas will doubt the resurrection. I imagine he felt like he needed to cram in some last lessons before the circus of his last moments on earth started.

What strikes me is that he doesn't give them a quick overview of his leadership style or instruct them on how to run various programs for their ministry. Instead, he tells them to abide in his love. And how do they abide in his love? By following his commands. What is his command? Love each other.

Love. To abide in Christ's love for us, we only need to love each other. Nothing could be more simple or more profound!

I am deeply grateful that Jesus' last instructions to his disciples was not a to-do list. It is an invitation to abide in him. To exist as a part of him. I need that reminder. So often I try to do things out of my own self and in my own strength. It's exhausting. I need to remember that my calling is to abide in the love of Christ. To choose to be more with him than to do more for him.

I need to think about the relationships that I'm in and evaluate how much I love the people given to me. Do I love them as Christ loves me? No, not entirely. But if I seek to be with Jesus more, I think I will, by default, love others more.

It's good to be loved.