Daily Reading 1-27-17
John 13:31-35New Living Translation (NLT)
Every Christ follower understands he or she is to love others. Yet, not every follower understands the magnitude of Christ’s command. Stated simply we are to love others the sacrificial way that Christ has loved us. If we are honest in evaluating our love for others, more than likely we would not call it sacrificial love. This kind of love is not convenient, can be emotionally painful because we are called to give when it hurts, is draining to our energy, and requires we think of the well-being of others not just ourselves. It is this sacrificial kind of love that reveals us as Christ’s disciples or followers. This love sets us apart from the shallow love of the world. Jesus knew Peter would deny him, yet Christ sacrificially loved him. Later, Peter would know just how much Christ loved him and he would spend his life sharing that same sacrificial love.
John 13:31-35 Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man[a] to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son,[b] he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Prayer: Lord, it is time to grow up into the kind of love that reveals us as your followers. Help me to lead, preach, and teach about this amazing love that is so valuable to your work of salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.