Christ’s Love Transforms Timid Hearts

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love…This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  John 15:9, 12

Before our Lord’s Passion, He not only predicted His death and resurrection, but also described how He would preserve His disciples in this world after His ascension.  However, where does Christ find the disciples, but behind the locked doors of a secure upper room.  Our Lord’s resurrection, His sending the promised Holy Spirit, His Word and Sacraments, give us courage to go where He leads.

John chapters 14-17 is Jesus’ paradigm for His disciples of the Christian life.  While some Christians would have us to retreat from the world to the locked doors of our own upper rooms, Christ demonstrates how the Christians serve in our vocations for the sake of our neighbors.  As the Father loved Christ, so Christ has loved us.  It only the love of Christ that can transform our timid hearts to go into the world to love our neighbors and serve in our daily callings.  Apart from Christ and His Word, we can do nothing.

You may be discouraged by what you see going on in the world today.  Our disciples felt much the same way.  That is why the comforting words of these chapters of John’s Gospel are so relevant for us today.  They serve as a clear reminder of the gifts and promises of Christ and how His love transforms timid hearts.  When you are discouraged by the state of the world today, may you find comfort and strength in God’s Word and Christ’s love for you.  Christ’s love alone enables us to love one another!

Prayer – Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen. 

Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan