What Glenn Writes

Gerry Soviar, my good friend and mentor, has quoted St. Francis of Assisi a few times in making his point to me, “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary.”  I’m not sure I have this as a word for word reiteration, but the meaning is conveyed here. I believe St. Francis was merely paraphrasing what Jesus was telling His disciples in John 13:34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How would anyone know the disciples followed Jesus?

• Would it be because of a sandwich board sign they were wearing?
• Because they handed out tracks?
• Because they had a huge church?
• Because they had a huge church and televised their services?
• Because they had totally and completely awesome radio shows?
• Because they held public rallies and were politically involved in social issues?
• Because they had really neat commercials?
• Because they had super cool youtube videos?
• Because they were on Facebook and their profile said so?

On each account, no. We’re talking the early disciples, so it would have been Facescroll anyway… (Groan! You do realize, not everybody is going to get that one, right Glenn?)

Some might think both phrases, the one spoken by Jesus and the one spoken by St. Francis (and Gerry), are referring to our actions. I used to think this way also, until I started to really understand the meaning of what Jesus is laying out for the disciples… He didn’t say “Act like you love one another…” He said, “Love one another.” Period, no dot, dot, dot in this phrase.

I think we can all be good at being nice and pretending to love one another. I think we can all put on a good show and even convince ourselves it is real, but the true test comes when your relationships are tested and you are asked to step out of your comfort zone.

Jesus stepped out of His comfort zone for you. I’m sure He was just fine in Heaven, yet He decided to leave His place of honor and become a man. Even as a man, I’m sure He was just comfortable with His friends and disciples, yet eventually He stepped out of His comfort zone and dragged a cross up a hill for you.

What about that command He gave us? Yes, it is just three words, “Love one another.” Did you catch the defining words following the command? “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Stepping out of His comfort zone was what He was all about.

The challenge here for me is I can set my mind to step out of my so called comfort zones for just about anybody, but why would I be doing it? Am I just acting or do I really care for the person? Am I sincere?

You see, there is this thing Jesus can do… He can see my heart. Being God and all, He has this ability to know my heart and know my intention… He knows my motivation. So, here I am, trying to do this love thing for others, preaching the Gospel through my actions, and I am failing miserably because it is merely an outward expression or activity.

Is this kind of love impossible, then? John gives us the answer in I John 4:7

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Here we see John giving us encouragement and repeating the very words of Jesus Christ, but we are given something more! We are given the answer and the source of our motivation. You see, we can’t work up this love for others like I was trying to do for so long, instead we have to ask for this kind of love from the only One who can give it to us: God.

What have I learned about this kind of love?

• It has no comfort zones because the comfort comes from giving.
• It has no judgment because there is no judgment in compassion.
• There is no sin because the focus is not on self.
• There is no acting because the motivation and intent is pure.

I am working toward a point when this kind of love comes natural to me, flowing from the Holy Spirit into my life and the lives of those around me. I’m not there yet. I’m still carrying around a lot of baggage, still caught up in a lot of foolishness… Ok, I’m not even close, as these times are fleeting and few, but I’m working on it.

I am asking the Lord for this kind of love each morning. There are times I am ready to receive it and there are times I get in the way and resist it. It is too far out of my comfort zone.

I’m working on it.

What about you? I encourage you to ask the Lord to fill your heart with compassion for the people around you, and whenever you can… make the effort to receive that powerful love. Whenever you can, get out of the way and let that love flow through you… step out of your comfort zone and into His.

By this, all men will know you are His disciple.

Let me know if you want help with this prayer or if you want to talk about it.

Glenn Sasscer

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