Light in the darkness

One of the big failures of the Christian faith today is that oftentimes we fail to do what the Lord has commanded us to do.

We can get so caught up in being judgmental against our fellow man or woman, or maybe even more common, don’t put enough time or investment into reading the word of God and hearing from Him that we don’t know what Jesus has commanded us to do.

Adopting the loving attitude that Jesus has commanded us to have can be so difficult to put into practice, particularly in today’s world and the echo chamber that is social media.

I think back to Jesus and what he said to his disciples shortly before he was about to be betrayed by Judas and crucified. He had just gotten done washing the feet of his disciples (a task that was reserved for the lowliest servant) and was explaining to them that his time left with them on earth was short.

In John 13:33-35, Jesus says:

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jesus loves people with a selfless kind of love that is full of compassion and totally genuine. Look no further than his sacrifice on the cross for sins he did not commit to illustrate that point.

Today’s world is filled with so much hatred. Every time you turn on the television or log on to Twitter, it seems like something horrible has happened. It seems like evil is everywhere you turn.

That’s why it’s so important for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus to show his light to the world. There are people who do this every day, people that I have met, and it can make such a difference in a dark world that needs all of the love it can get.

Jesus lays it out in a simple, yet daunting way in John 13. It’s simple to understand that Jesus wants us to love one another at all times. It’s much more daunting to put that into practice on a daily basis.

I would like to challenge all of us this week to really put those words from Jesus into practice. Dive deep into a selfless, genuine love for other people. Reach out. Help those who need it and don’t expect anything in return. Serve willingly and joyfully.

When we as Christians start to love the world the way Jesus instructed us to, we will see radical change in our lives and the lives of those around us in ways that we could have never imagined.

Instead of being judgmental or spiteful, ask yourself: “How would Jesus handle this situation?” When we start seeing the world through that lens, it will completely transform how we connect with people.