Read John 13: 1-7; 31b-35. Key Verse: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (v. 35)
It takes only 90 seconds for a first time guest to your church to know if she or he is ever going to return. Ninety-seconds! What does a guest learn at your church? From my experiences I have learned that in some churches longtime friends congregate together in some tightly knit ways that don't open up for guests. Oh, they may turn from their circle to smile and either hand you a bulletin or smile, but rarely has love been seen in those churches. But thank God, that in some churches, there is love seen almost immediately and people go out of their way to welcome you and make you feel a part of the family.
The passage of Maundy Thursday has in the new commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples that they love one another. And as the key verse says that by the way they showed that love would people know they were disciples of Jesus. Is that true in your life? Is that true in the life of your church?
We have a long way to go in most United Methodist Churches when it comes to showing love and loving others. We have to conquer the ages old -isms that keep people from feeling at home and wanting to join our "families." What are you doing to counter and change that?
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be true of me and this dear reader, that we will be known for our love for You and for one another. Help our Church recognize the need we have to truly love another. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
