Counter Culture: Teach One Another — Friday
John 15:12
”This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (NLT)
Our message Sunday from the series Counter Culture was about Paul’s encouragement to us to teach each other. We do that by drawing from our own experiences and being humble enough, and vulnerable enough, to share those experiences with others—the experiences where we’ve overcome, and also those where we might have struggled.
In today’s verse, we see Jesus’ strong directive on how to love:
He taught us. We can teach each other.
He lovingly corrected us. We can lovingly correct each other.
He wept with us. We can weep together.
He served us. We can serve each other.
He forgave us. We can forgive each other.
He died for us. We can die to our egos and preferences for the sake of each other.
But there’s a force always working against that way of living, a constant pull on us to pursue separateness and individuality as humans. Deciding to open ourselves up to others feels threatening because it moves us out of the separateness in which Satan wants us to exist. The primary activity of God is to constantly pull us all back into union with Him, and each other. It’s vitally important that we see this and respond to it. The impact of the church is directly tied to how well we love God and each other. There are things I will never notice about God or myself without your help! And, if we were created by love, for love, and to love, the only way that will be fully experienced is in community.
Friday’s Reflection
Choose today not to be separate. Ask God to show you how to genuinely give yourself to others. There’s so much to learn, and so much you have to offer.
