What A Kingdom #1

Jesus’ New Commandment is to love one another. (John 13:34 NIV)

Note: This is not the same commandment as “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is a new one taught by Jesus to His disciples at the Last Supper. This is for believers. This is for the church, the congregation. This is for me and all of you reading this blog.

Love one another!

Are we doing this?

How do we do this?

I only really know a few of you well. I would say I’m friends with even a smaller “few of you”.

Sometimes I hear the father of lies whisper that most of you would not be interested in really knowing me. Much less love me. The liar tells me to just live happily in the safety of that cerebral fortress of yours, where I can love the illusion of loving everyone at arm's length.

The Holy Spirit lets me know this is twisted logic and not even remotely true. Thank you, Lord, for delivering me from the evil one. He reminds me of James 4:7: " Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (NIV).

“Love one another” is a commandment of Jesus.

And then there is this other thing Jesus said:

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:10-11 ESV)

Hmm, keeping His commandments results in me being full of joy.

I’m the guy who believes what Jesus says. Plus, I like the idea of being full of joy.

So, I should set out to love everyone in the congregation. A command that, when obeyed, fills me with joy. I know this is true as I’ve experienced it a few times. Usually, when I stress myself to engage with one of you that I hardly know. And get to know. It is always surprising, the stories that are bottled up in each of us. Stories that, when set free, proclaim the glory of God as He works mightily among us. Or stories of sadness for one reason or another that God would have me help assuage in some way. Like praying or sharing a Word that God has given me in the moment, that can make a big difference in a life. God’s nutritional fruit makes joy possible.

Or stories that more often than not serve to build my faith, correct my course, steering me away from an imminent disaster; God helping me mightily through one of you. A shipwreck averted, making joy possible.

This engaging with others is turning away from the lowest-energy behavior available: Be nice, chat a bit, and head for the door. Go work on my list of important things to get done. Besides, I’m hungry. More lies from the father of distractions.

Easy, but only a tiny “joy hors d’oeuvres,” not the feast Jesus has prepared for us.

Do I have to work for joy? Working for joy is not joyful until it is.

Interesting how what seems harder, takes more energy, and goes against the natural flow of things, actually turns out to be energizing and rewarding beyond all expectations.

Welcome to the Kingdom of God, where reality is actually real.