Tuesday, November 3, 2015

It's Love that Makes the Difference

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

A number of years ago, my wife and I were looking for a new church. We had attended a large church in town, but never felt a part of the community.  Every week, during the “greeting moment,” which I dubbed “the most uncomfortable minute of the week,” we felt as if we were strangers among people who had no interest in knowing us.  There were smiles and handshakes, but no real conversation.  After the service, we often stood in the middle of the fellowship hall observing people talking with one another, but rarely engaging us.  When we realized we were waking up and dreading going to this church, we knew we had to seek out a different community.

And we both remember the second time we walked into what is now our home church.  I say the second time, because the first time was what we expected.  An elderly man greeted us, introducing himself and asking our names and what we did.  It was nice, but not out of the ordinary.  What got our attention was the next week when this same gentleman greeted us by name and said that he and his wife had prayed for us and our ministry that previous week.  It was like a hot drink on a very cold day.  And we have remained a part of this community ever since.

Both churches are strong on biblical teaching, great missions outreach, and wonderful worship, but the sense of love was the difference for us. Now I’m sure there are many in our previous church who could write and say wonderful things about the love of that community, but we personally did not experience it.  And that made all the difference.  Love is that important!

Love is what drew me to the Lord back when I was a college student.  I saw love between believers and experienced it from them.  I have seen students who are broken be transformed by this love and churches who bring healing to deep wounds by the same love.  

Regardless if a community of believers has sound doctrine, a wonderful worship band, a great missions outreach, great children’s and youth programs, it is really nothing if individual people don’t experience love. And that is the great challenge of the Church, to show love to those around us and never assuming “they are taken care of.”  

“Love one another” is an inclusive command.  It includes not just the people we know well, but those around us we may not know as well or at all.  And it is a difficult one to keep because our tendency is to focus on those we know and are comfortable with.  

Today, think about how you can demonstrate love to those in your church or campus ministry that are beyond your friendship circle.  As you well know, if they experience love, it will make all the difference.

© Jim Musser 2015

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