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 As we have noted on the page,
“the three e’s”, Christians need clearly to
understand that Jesus’ call was expressed in these
words: Then he said to them all, “If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to
save their life will lose it, and those who lose their
life for my sake will save it.”
(Luke 9:23-4).
And yet we need to hear the
double meaning in his words: “If you love me, you
will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). In
his first letter, John the gospeller noted: We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19).
God is the prime mover in loving and, as we
receive that love supremely demonstrated on the cross, so
we are moved to love him.
Yes, our love for Jesus is tested by the extent to
which we keep his commandments, but we should also
rejoice that keeping his commandments will be an
automatic consequence of ‘falling in love’ with him.
This
is the vision: that we receive God’s love and in
response cannot help but live the resurrection life of
love that he offers us, wills for all humankind and calls
us to be his agents in sharing.
All God’s people need to grasp this, be
envisioned by this, be encouraged by this.
Then, assuming that they are also able and
allowed, they will be willing to minister his
grace, mercy, love and truth to all whom they meet.
As
it grows, this area of the website will carry resources,
ideas and stories to envision and encourage.
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