To the end

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

Have you ever wondered how to love as Jesus have loved you? For sure you won’t die on a cross for people you love. And washing feet… maybe. It is still a humbling way to serve and to love. It is just as when someone washes your dishes or cleans your house. It is so loving. But what is great with Jesus’ love is that it never ceases. He loves to the end (John 13:1). And that is the real challenge: not only to wash feet, but to love and serve to the end.

Jesus did not stop loving His disciples. When they were arrogant, He kept loving them. When they were selfish, He kept loving them. When they were just childish and tiresome, He kept loving them. When Peter was looking for attention instead of looking for God, He kept loving him. When I am foolish, crazy, faithless and prideful at the same time, He never stops loving me. He loves to the end. And that’s challenging.

I don’t mind loving people for even a few years, but somehow I want the right to stop loving them when I think they don’t deserve it. Jesus was different. He washed Judas’ feet. He knew Judas was going to betray Him and He loved him to the end. And that’s the call, to love in this way. To love as Jesus has loved us. To the end.

The LORD appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:3

And if…

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John: 2:6

And if I really walked in the same way Jesus walked?

Then all who labor and are heavy laden would come to me to have rest. Matthew 11:29

Then I would never quarrel nor cry aloud,

And would never break those who are weak. Matthew 12: 19-20

I would be always serving and never be served. Mark 10:45

I would look beyond appearances. Luke 21: 1-4

My food would be to do the will of God and I would declare the gospel even when I am tired. John 4: 6-26; 34

I would help people who are not asking for my help. John 4: 2-9

I would not receive my glory from people. John 5: 41

I would look at God to meet the needs that seem too big. John 6: 1-11

I would always seek God’s glory and would always be true. John 7: 18

I would give mercy where condemnation seems to be the right thing to do. John 8: 2-11

I would be a good shepherd and fight for God’s children when Satan plays with them. I would not turn my back to them because of their sins. John 10: 10-11

I would not always do want people ask me to do for them, but out of love will do it the way God wants. John 5-6

I would openly weep. John 11:35

I would humble myself and always choose a donkey instead of a horse. John 12: 14-15

I would wash the feet of and eat with those who betray me. John 13: 1-30

I would pray for those I love. John 17

I would protect my brothers. John 18: 7-9

I would not reject those who deny me. Mark 16: 6-7; Luke 24:34

As I am not always walking like Him, thirsty and hungry for His righteousness (Matthew 5:6), I count on His mercy and press on toward the goal, toward Him (Philippians 3:14).

Jesus is the solution or lessons from G.I. Joe Retaliation

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. Luke 9:49-52

Today I had to watch G.I. Joe Retaliation at work because someone somewhere had not done his work properly. Of course I had no intention to enjoy that movie. Even its title sounds non-christian. However there are good things in that movie and I kind of like it.  It talks about loyalty, spiritual family, perseverance and endurance.

The good characters are so good. They understand that when you are in trouble you need to run home. And you will always be welcome there whatever you have done and whoever you are. You have always a place where to hide and be protected because you are part of the family.

The bad characters are so bad. They are not a family. They are not even friends. They are together because they share the same interests and because they need one another. The day you stop being useful, you are not welcome anymore and the others will kill you with joy.

How many times did you feel rejected when you were not needed anymore? How many times did people just call you, write to you, contact you just because they wanted something from you? And when they could not have it, they forgot about you? How many times did you feel used and abused by people pretending loving you? I can’t even count them. My heart aches when I think of it.

But how many times did I do the same to others? How many times did I call someone just because I needed him or her? How many times did I fight for a relationship because I had something to earn? How many times was I the bad of the movie? I don’t know because I don’t want to remember how evil I can be. But the truth is that I hurt people as much as I am hurt.

So what can we do? Despaired? Wallowed in self-pity? No, for we have hope. We can look at Jesus and take refuge in Him when people treat us in those hurting way and be comforted (John 8:1-11). We can look at Him when we treat others in those ways and learn to love them as we are loved (John 13:34).

This morning, before the movie, I was wondering what “Jesus is the solution” really means? And this is certainly a part of the answer.

Unnoticed but seen

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)

I have be thinking of Anna for days. I have already talked about her, but I really want to do it  again. Her humility and her true love, her true devotion to God amaze me.  She spent her time fasting and praying and was content. I am sure that no one really noticed her. She was not doing great and visible things. She was not doing incredible things for God, things worth to be shared. However God noticed her. What she was doing, how she was worshipping Him was great in His eyes, great enough to be share in the ultimate Good News.

Sometimes God is most glorified when we do things that only Him can see. When we pray for that sister who was sad during the service, when we fast for that brother who want to give up, when we are on our knees for our coworkers and crying for a soul, we are serving and worshipping God in a wonderful way, in a difficult way.

Difficult because we do not receive honour and praise from men. Difficult because we need to fix our eyes on God and Him only and wait for His reward. You are fighting on Jesus’s side and no one knows it. Some even will despise you because you are not fighting against satan with much activities and noise. Some will think that you are so far from God, so lazy. But God knows. He sees. He notices and He comes with a recompense (Isaiah 62:11).

I do not know if I am ready to live unnoticed,  but I am willing and encourage to embrace serving God anonymously. After all He is the only One who matters and He sees. He never slumbers nor sleeps and He sees and will reward me (Psalm 121:4; Hebrews 4:13).

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…

 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you…

 pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-6)