I punched a boy once. Twice, actually. Not the same boy, to be clear.
I remember the arm coming like a baseball bat right across my face. I don’t remember what that felt like. But I do remember what it felt like to hit him back. I remember the other boy, too, in particular his tears and his tooth in his hands. I think I felt tough. Today I feel bad.
They were both my friends and they both stayed my friends. I’m pretty sure we fought over something important, as boys do.
As Christians, why do you and I fight with each other? Because I’m right and you’re wrong! And that’s important, right?!
Jesus says the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). If one disciple loves another disciple, if one church loves another church, then the world will know we’ve been with Jesus, that we’re like Jesus, that we’re living for Jesus, that we’re learning from Jesus, that we’re being changed by Jesus -- that Jesus lives in us!
But if we don’t love, they won’t know. In fact, they can’t know! Love at work and love at play, in and through our lives and churches, is the proof that convinces the world that Jesus is the Risen Savior and Reigning King.
I will always find something in you as a disciple of Jesus that I think you should change so you can become more like me, a “better” disciple - or vice versa. But how about I love you and let Jesus change you, change me, and change us - when, how, and where He chooses?
He commands us to love, not to change people (John 15:12). We love each other for the sake of change. We love each other for the sake of the world.
I once heard from a pastor that he tries to gather up enough love for someone BEFORE he goes into a difficult meeting with them. That’s good, solid, wise and, I think, Jesus-like advice. BEFORE you debate or disagree, before you correct or challenge, before you write or text your response to someone’s actions or words, gather up enough love for them.
There are right and wrong things, to be sure. But often our initial response is more about getting it right for Jesus than we’d like to think or admit - the thrill of the fight! Yet, God is love, and apart from Him love is impossible (1 John 4:8). But with Jesus Christ, all things are possible, above all love.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
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