Eastertide
April 24, 2015

Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:16-24

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. –1 John 3:18-22

What does it mean for our hearts to condemn us? Is the author of our scripture saying something to the effect that we do know what we are called to do and our hearts tell us when we have failed to do it? What does it mean to have boldness before God? Does that mean that when we are expressing our love in truth and action we can and should rely on God to support us in that work? And what are the commandments, which we obey that please God? Are they the two commandments Jesus identified in Mark 12:30-31: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these?

Jesus Christ called us to be audacious servants of God that love like God as exemplified by Jesus in his life here on earth.  We certainly need to express that love one on one with people whom we know. We also need to live that love among people we may not know yet, but who are hungry, sick, in prison, or strangers and live in our towns and cities and are our neighbors whom we need to know. Our love is also to be extended across the world among people we may never meet, but who also are in need of our care in whatever form it may take.

 Beyond these direct responses, we are called to create a just world where all have equal opportunities to answer God’s call for them to love and be God’s audacious servants also.

Prayer: Lord we see so much need and know that what we see is just the tip of the iceberg of need, it sometimes overwhelms us. We understand that we as individuals cannot do everything but we can do our part. Write on our hearts that which you are calling us to do and enable us in our love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.