“Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12, NIV).
A Word From Billy Graham
“What is the great overwhelming evidence that we have passed from death unto
life? It is love! So often we want everyone to be the same—to think and speak
and believe as we do. Many Scripture passages could be called to witness that
love is the real key to Christian unity. In the spirit of true humility, we are
to approach our problems, our work, and even our differences.”
A Servant Heart
“Before Jesus went to the cross, He gave His disciples an unforgettable lesson
in love's humility. The Lord of glory, Maker of worlds, the Firstborn over all
creation, bent low before ordinary men, knowing full well that within hours they
would desert Him, deny Him or betray Him outright. Without fanfare He washed
their feet. It was only when He had finished and had resumed His seat that He
made a point of what He had done: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an
example that you should do as I have done for you’” (John 13:14-15, NIV).
When the hatred of others bound Jesus' loving hands so that He could no longer
touch the pain of the few, He stretched His bleeding form upon redemption's tree
and died a ransom for the many: ‘Just as the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28, NIV). In
that act of love's supreme service He called us all to a life of costly caring,
‘just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God’” (Ephesians 5:2, NIV) (Paul A. Rader).
Prayer
Lord, it isn’t easy to love others as You loved us. But we still believe that
even today Your Spirit can enable us to love others in action and in truth.
Renew our hearts to follow Jesus’ example. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A Word From Billy Graham
“What is the great overwhelming evidence that we have passed from death unto
life? It is love! So often we want everyone to be the same—to think and speak
and believe as we do. Many Scripture passages could be called to witness that
love is the real key to Christian unity. In the spirit of true humility, we are
to approach our problems, our work, and even our differences.”
A Servant Heart
“Before Jesus went to the cross, He gave His disciples an unforgettable lesson
in love's humility. The Lord of glory, Maker of worlds, the Firstborn over all
creation, bent low before ordinary men, knowing full well that within hours they
would desert Him, deny Him or betray Him outright. Without fanfare He washed
their feet. It was only when He had finished and had resumed His seat that He
made a point of what He had done: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an
example that you should do as I have done for you’” (John 13:14-15, NIV).
When the hatred of others bound Jesus' loving hands so that He could no longer
touch the pain of the few, He stretched His bleeding form upon redemption's tree
and died a ransom for the many: ‘Just as the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28, NIV). In
that act of love's supreme service He called us all to a life of costly caring,
‘just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God’” (Ephesians 5:2, NIV) (Paul A. Rader).
Prayer
Lord, it isn’t easy to love others as You loved us. But we still believe that
even today Your Spirit can enable us to love others in action and in truth.
Renew our hearts to follow Jesus’ example. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
