Love One Another

This is the message. Love one another. (l John 3:11)

I John 3:11-18, 22-3; I John 4:7-12; John 13:35

What Is God Saying?

John, the Beloved Disciple, remained faithful to Jesus through years of steadfast witness and a growing love for his Master. There were no recorded ups and downs, no hot then cold, just steady growth, embracing all believers with mature and generous love. In advanced years, he writes this letter as a reminder that we cannot think or say we love God unless we grow in our love for others. It comes naturally to John to use the word beloved. It flows from his pen because it flows from his heart.

It seems that this message included all other messages. We should love one another. If that is missing, nothing else counts very much.

How Does This Apply To Us?

John has a message for us. Love is a universal need; no one in any time or place is spiritually rich or emotionally sound without it. Indeed, no one can say he knows and follows Christ and is not continually motivated by the same thing that brought Christ to this world in the first place. ‘God so loved the world that he gave.’

Nothing more effectively leads us to and keeps us in prayer than love.

Pray With Me

Lord, I get the message. I get the message in my heart beyond logic and expediency, beyond human mechanisms, beyond the tides of changing moods and the breaking waves of self-concern. I get the message in Your self-abandoning love. I get the message when I am blessed by someone you have touched.

God of all being and Lord of my being, may my life flow forth in healing love. Then Your message will become my message, and my message will be brought, as Yours has always been, in deeds of kindness.

Through Jesus Christ, the Lord of Love. Amen

Moving On In The Life Of Prayer

As water and sunlight nourish a growing plant, the life of prayer prospers and is most effective when we pray because of love. It changes prayer from a hollow ritual to a joyful privilege. To love and to pray because we love and are loved by God means we have heard John's simple message. Prayer knows no greater incentive, and prayer has no greater staying power than love: love from God, love for God, and love for one another.