Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. But there's always one more way we could worship God, and there's always one more person we could serve. So, how do we know when we have loved enough?
Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. But there's always one more way we could worship God, and there's always one more person we could serve. So, how do we know when we have loved enough?
To be freed from the guilt, shame, and exhaustion of performance-based love as God's love transforms us into mature, wise, and consistently loving disciples of Jesus.
In Mark 6:30-53, Mark tells us that so many were coming to Jesus that the disciples didn't have time to eat. So, Jesus invites them to get away and rest.
But before they can reach a remote place, a large crowd runs ahead to meet them. Though the disciples were already exhausted, Jesus teaches the crowds all day long. By now, the disciples are likely even hungrier and ready to send the crowd away.
We know the two great commandments are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
But what happens when you take these commands seriously? There's always one more thing you can do to honor God. There's always someone in a ditch who could use the helping hand of a Good Samaritan.
Consider everyone that God wants us to love: God, Members of our church, Our family, Our neighbors, Our enemies, Ourselves, Those in authority, The poor, hungry, sick, imprisoned, widows, orphans, and the oppressed, and Everyone who does not know Christ.
But the global population is over eight billion people; approximately 700 million people live in extreme poverty.
So, at what point can a faithful Christian say, "I have done enough to love my neighbor"?
It is much easier to convince ourselves that we are loving than it is to put our love into action.
It's much easier to post on social media than sit with a friend who is overwhelmed with grief. How have we replaced actually loving people with learning about love?
The disciples wanted to give the crowd directions to buy their own food, but Jesus wanted them to personally deliver their meals.
When we love to the point of bitterness, what's the net effect? Though no one likes to be exhausted, there are some benefits! Once we're spent, we can justify not helping anymore.
Since infinite love is impossible, we turn to spiritual alternatives. For instance, legalism tries to manage the cost of love by giving us a series of manageable rules to follow.
Our problem started as soon as we saw love as a performance, a task, or a checklist. As long as 'being loving' is our strategy to avoid guilt, shame, or punishment, then we're stuck at the start.
This is the paradox of our lives: we are habituated to love in order to get love.
But Jesus is inviting us to experience grace: to receive his love so that we might love.
We can do nothing apart from Jesus, but we can do everything he asks of us when we are connected to his life and love.
Rend Collective is a folk rock worship band from Northern Ireland.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit... I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me... As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.
List God's responsibilities and actions in this passage.
In your own words, describe how Jesus describes the relationship between himself and his disciples.
List your responsibilities and actions in this passage.
Evaluate Jesus' promise of joy against other visions of the good life.
Practically, what does it look like to abide in Jesus?
My heavenly Father, I thank you that you have loved me, do love me, and will always love me. Help me to find my identity in being your beloved child.
Jesus, you are the true vine, my only source of life and love. I can't do anything apart from you. Help me to abide in you and live by the strength you give me.
Holy Spirit, I want you to produce the fruit of love in my life and our community. Fill us with your love so that we can love as you love.
How has the impossible burden of love crushed you?
How do you avoid God's love?
How do you avoid loving others?
What would it look like for us to love each other as God has loved us?
How does abiding in Jesus help us know when to act and when to rest?
What motivates you to produce love on your own initiative?
What fears hold you back from abiding in Christ?
What false beliefs do I need to replace to believe that God loves me?
How will you avoid acting without abiding this week?
As you abide in Christ, how is he inviting you to love someone else?
Review your Life Plan, calendar, and to-do lists: are they structured for spiritual performance or receiving and giving love?
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