January 24 | John 15: 12-17
- Michael Guastella
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
No Greater Love Than This
By Michael Guastella
When Jesus says "this is my command", it's always a good idea to pay attention to what comes right after that. We open this passage with exactly that - a command. And this one is very, very important. We are called to love each other, but very specifically, we are called to love each other as Jesus has loved us.
Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love God, and even to love our enemies. But here, his new command to love as He loves us is unparalleled. It is clear to us here that love only in this way can be the distinguishing mark of His disciples.
This is a fierce call to action. While we may not always literally "lay down our lives" for our friends as it says in verse 13, we can love through the sacrifice of our time, our resources, and our egos. Jesus is trusting us here to be good stewards of His command. In verse 14, He calls us His "friends" and promotes us from servants. This is a radical shift in status. In the ancient world, a servant obeyed orders without needing to know the master's "why." But Jesus explains that he has shared everything that God wants for us. Friendship with Christ isn't earned by obedience, but it is demonstrated by it. We obey not because we are afraid of a master, but because we trust a friend.
We're reminded in the last couple of verses here that we are the ones whom God has chosen for this task. He chose us! A humbling perspective, to be sure. And in case we missed it the first time, he reminds us again to love one another.
There truly is no greater love than this. The love of our Father, our Savior, and the fruit that comes from it. The lasting impact of loving like Jesus does, and the spreading of the Gospel. We are faced with a million chances in a week to put ourselves aside and love like Jesus. Yeah, it might cost us something here, in this temporary world we know. But something much deeper and much more profound will happen - the message of Jesus will be spread through the love we show. The breadth of how far it goes has been delegated to the Holy Spirit. It's up to us to put it front and center. Let it continually shine through us all, and let us share the greatest love there is.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for trusting us to spread your light. Forgive us Lord when we choose our own comfort over your commands. Be with us always, and give us the strength to be relentless in sharing the love that only you can provide. Thank you for first loving us, for being our example, and for choosing us.
About the Author
MICHAEL GUASTELLA
I have been a Hilliard resident since 2022, and have lived in Columbus about 11 years. I am originally from the Cleveland area. I work in downtown Columbus as a government affairs consultant. My wife, Rachael, and I have been attending UALC since early 2024.
Love is the one thing there can never be too much of. Boy do I wish that more of us could love eachother like Jesus loves us. There would be less intolerance, fewer protests, and far more understanding.
"Choosing comfort over commands...."ouch 🥲
When we stop and think about how His light and love has impacted the world in 2000 years and still is - I am in awe. Overall the world is more humane and less tolerant than ever to inhumane practices. May His light and love continue to permeate....may I be part of that. May I choose more often to love kn another.
"We are faced with a million chances in a week to put ourselves aside and love like Jesus."--How true this is. If only I would recognize and take advantage of these opportunities. Thank you for this reminder.