Date: 11/25/2020
If You Really Loved Me
Jan Hill of New Brighton, MN, USA
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:13–20
I have a granddaughter who is very active, outgoing, and fun-loving. Sometimes when she makes plans to do something, she will ask me to do it with her. But her idea of fun is not always mine. If I decline, she turns her big, soulful eyes towards me, and says, “But Grandma, if you really loved me…”
Fortunately, she only does this when she has asked me to do some ridiculous thing, like going to Valley Fair and riding the roller coaster with her. She knows perfectly well, even before she asks me, that the answer will be a definite “No.” (Not even when that mythical hot place freezes over will I do it.) So, we laugh, and I don’t feel too guilty.
I know that God does not ask frivolous things of us just to test our love. But I sometimes wonder…
If Jesus asked me to do something, and he turned his deep brown eyes toward me, and said, “If you loved me…” would I just blow it off as an unreasonable request? Or would I do his will?
For those who love Jesus, doing God’s will is the way of being the people God wants us to be.
Prayer Phrase
God, help me seek peace for me, peace for us, peace for everyone, and peace for our planet. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The International Community
Find (or imagine) a globe or map of the world. Look at all the nations and find a country other than your own. Notice the geographic distance between your homeland and this one. Picture a person living there. Pray for this person. Sense God’s love connecting you just as the oceans connect the continents. Thank God for the spiritual connection you have with all of God’s people around the globe. Ask a blessing on the church as a community sharing Christ’s peace, drawing all into the family of God.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
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