Daily Worship

Immaculate loving

Dave Close September 29, 2015 0 0

John 15:10

You are my friends if you do what I command.

Some responses when reading the passage with a mixed group of Christian and non-christians:
“It’s pretty brutal…
“This is what I fear community will be like – that if you do something wrong then you’re not part of it”

 

I hear words like these and I get nervous,
you sound like the party whip, compelling conformity.
I start to wonder what happens if I do something wrong… 
what am I saying? if?

Quell the fear in me, Lord.  
Help me to remember 
who you are
and what your command is:
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

This isn’t a call to immaculate living but to immaculate loving;
not a call to rigorously audited performance but to extravagant, mutual service.
to community in which we give ourselves sacrificially, not prudently, proportionately measured out.

Quell the fear in me, Lord.
The fear that would stop me loving.