Got Love?

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action (1 Jn. 3:18).

            How best to share God’s love and with whom are ongoing questions.  These are questions that all those who believe in Jesus Christ need to consider.  “Why?” you might ask?  Well… the number one thing that Jesus told his followers was to love.  Love one another.  Love God.  Love your neighbour as yourself.  “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35).

            It is said that John, who was one of Jesus’ disciples, simply repeated the same thing over and over again as he got older: “Love one another.”  While we could blame it on aging, it is also quite likely that he kept saying this because those in the church were not showing very much love!

            And so, here at St. Luke’s Zion we have acknowledged that our purpose within God’s mission is to share God’s love with all people.  Certainly, there are ways in which we are already doing this.

            Some share God’s love through the food bank, or through Trinity Food Pantry, or through serving meals at the Urban.  Some volunteer at places like Winnipeg Harvest and Siloam Mission.  Some volunteer at personal care homes and visit those who are sick or lonely or shut-in.  Some knit items for those who don’t have warm winter clothes, and some put together We Care Kits or similar packages for those who are in need.

            While none of us can share God’s love with all people, each of us can certainly show love to some.  The other thing that we do within the church is to support others who are able to do things that we could never do on our own.  An example would be our support for the work of CLWR or our support for NEST, which sponsors refugees.  At the same time, we are part of ministries all over the world simply because we are part of both our national church and the Lutheran World Federation. 

            Some questions to consider, though, as we think about this:

• Are we totally maxed out and doing all that we can to share God’s love with others, or is there more that we could be doing?
• Who are the people that we know of in our communities who most need to experience the love of God?
• Have you experienced God’s love and seen it at work in your brothers and sisters in Christ?
• Are there new ways in which God is calling either you as an individual or us as a congregation to share God’s love?

I invite you to share with me your answers to these questions.  This is also a test, just to see who reads the newsletter! J

            At the time when the first letter of John was written, the author was very concerned that people do more than simply tell others that God loves them.  While there are times when that message is important to communicate, John asks how God’s love can possibly abide in somebody who sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help (1 Jn. 3:17).  Thus, love “in truth and action.”

In Christ,                        

Pastor Lynne Hutchison