The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Wednesday, 10 February 2021

 The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Wednesday, 10 February 2021

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection <info@mc.cor.org>

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection GPS Guide for Wednesday, 10 February 2021

Jesus called his followers into deep relationships

Daily Scripture:

John 15:12-17

12 This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.

Reflection Questions:

“I chose you,” Jesus told his disciples, “so that you could go and produce fruit.” At first glance, that might sound like a harsh, task-driven demand. (Many of Israel’s pagan neighbors said “the gods” made humans just to do tasks they didn’t want to do themselves.) But Jesus also told his followers he didn’t call them servants, but friends. And the primary “fruit” he asked them to produce was to live in God’s love and extend that love to one another.

Read verses 12-15 again. Imagine them coming from a project, team or workplace leader to the group (including you) whom that leader has chosen to “bear fruit.” What would assure you that the message was more that “just words”? How do you think that message would affect your attitude and that of others on the team? How would it shape communication and cooperation as you moved forward?

Most of us do not lead a large organization—certainly not one intended to reach the whole world, as Jesus did. But all of us work with some kind of “team,” from a group of workers in a school or business to two or three children or just a two-person spousal “team” (more on that next week). How can you bring Jesus' spirit to whatever team(s) you influence every day?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you really seemed to believe this love, friendship and trust stuff—and after 2,000 years, it seems to work. Help my life to bear fruit, making my world more like your kingdom. Amen.

Want more reflection on today's GPS?

Read the GPS Insight by Jennifer Creagar

Jesus called his followers into deep relationships

Jennifer Creagar

Jennifer Creagar is the Financial Care Program Director in Congregational Care at Resurrection Leawood. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.

Sometimes Scripture is complicated. Sometimes I am so grateful to have sermons and the GPS and Bible studies, and people who can help explain and unpack the more complicated words and ideas, answer my questions, and help me put words into action.

When it comes to Jesus’ instruction in today’s verses, though, it seems pretty simple.

This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Simple is not the same thing as easy. Definitely not easy. If loving each other was easy, such a large portion of the New Testament wouldn’t be letters from leaders trying to help the new believers learn how to love each other.

Many times we think in the “big picture.” We read “Love your neighbor,” and we think of the Samaritan on the side of the road, the widows and orphans, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, and we reach out in love - as we should. In some ways, though, that’s a lot easier than consistently acting in a loving way towards those closest to us - the family we have been cooped up with for almost a year, our friends who hold political opinions that shock or annoy us, our coworkers who are struggling to work as a team on Zoom, the neighbor across the street who brings his lawn chair to the neighborhood driveway gathering, but forgets his mask. It can be a lot harder to consistently love those closest to us the way Jesus loves us.

In today’s Scripture, Jesus says that the way to overcome that difficulty is to “give up one’s life for one’s friends.” Not easy. Giving up our lives can mean being inconvenienced and uncomfortable. It can mean we don’t get to do things exactly the way we want to today. It means giving up our anger and acting in a loving way when the person close to us is being unreasonable.

It means being patient, kind, without envy or boasting, or pride. It means avoiding the temptation to deliver the rude put-down. We have to put others first and not indulge ourselves in anger. In love, we set aside keeping track of wrongs that we have experienced, and concentrate on rejoicing in truth (even the uncomfortable ones). It means we always protect others, seek truth, and live in hope for ourselves and others. It means we keep on loving when it is hard. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, paraphrased).

In today’s Scripture, Jesus promises that, if we do these things, we will have a lasting impact for good in the world, and that God will grant us what we need to act on his behalf. He calls us to do this hard thing and love each other, even in close quarters or while trying to work together or love each other from a distance. He promises God will give us the strength and guidance to do that. All we have to do is ask for it. I’m very grateful for that. So let’s go forward in love and rely on this promise that we can love each other, even when it’s not easy.

Lord, you knew that loving each other consistently is the hardest thing you ask of us. Thank you for reminding us that you chose us and will provide the love we need to follow your commandment.

Help us to act on this commandment with our neighbors and with those closest to us.

Amen

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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.

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