‘Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognise that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other.’
(John 13: 34-35 THE MESSAGE)
At the beginning of the film Love Actually these words are spoken:
‘Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere.
‘Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.
‘When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.’
We are all unique and we have different loves – from loving winter more than summer or coffee rather than tea. But the one thing we can rely on is that God loves us all, no matter what our preferences or loves are, and he wants us to love him and others in the same way.
Love is something we can all give – young babies who smile at you and wait for your response, the teenager messaging their friends to check on them, the retired gentleman sharing a cup of tea and a chat with their friend. These are simple ways of showing love, and no matter what our age, we are all able to do it.
But what about those people whom we may find it harder to love – those who have hurt us, or we those read about in the news who have done dreadful things? Jesus tells us plainly – love one another as I have loved you. He loved and still loves everyone, and we must do the same.
The words of a well-known hymn says this:
‘Oh dearly, dearly, has he loved
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming [love]
And try his works to do.’
SASB 203
So how do we show love completely and wholeheartedly if we don’t find it easy?
One phrase that parents might use to their child is, ‘I love you, but I don’t love this particular behaviour.’
We can love people with a love that God gives, even if we don’t necessarily love something about them or something they have done. Even when it is the most difficult thing to do, we need to look beyond the situation with God’s eyes. By showing God’s love and reaching out to them, maybe they will feel and see God’s love for themselves and want to know more of his love for themselves.
REFLECTION
Is there a particular situation that you find difficult to show love in?
Are there people who need your love particularly at the moment?
Why not write that name or situation on the leaf you have and add it to the tree – a tree that is growing leaves of love. Watch the love grow as more leaves are added, and share a prayer as you do so.
Whilst engaging in this activity you could listen to the song ‘Everywhere’ which talks about God’s love being the same for us all each and every day.
PRAYER
May we look at others
as if through your eyes,
less judging, more loving,
and seeing them, like us,
as not perfect or finished,
but as a work in progress
that will be completed
in due time by your hands.
Amen.
Anon
BIBLE VERSE
Give each member a Bible verse card based on John 13:34 to keep.
