Good Day

The lesson for today is titled “Love–Plugging Into the Power.”  Please read the scripture from John 21: 15-19.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16 A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 17 He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’

God’s power is available, God’s strength is accessible, God’s energy is at hand, God’s presence is nearer than breathing, but many people are not connected to it.  They live in the shadow of the power source, but they are not plugged in.

When we go out in the spirit of Christ to love others, when we reach out to help and serve others in the name of Jesus our Lord, there is amazing, redeeming energy in that experience.  But it is not enough to just live in the shadow of the power-source.  We must be connected, we must be plugged in.  We need to plug into the power of humble love.  Humble love is so beautiful.  Indeed, when you stop to think about it, is there any

other kind?  There is a great power in humble love.

We need to plug into the power of encouraging love.  When Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Feed my sheep,” he was saying to him, “I believe in you and trust you. I know you can do it with the help of God.”  Encouraging love puts life back in your step, strength in your hands, faith in your eyes and hope in your hearts. There is great 

power in encouraging love.

We need to plug into the power of sacrificial love.  Christ has a word for you and if you listen closely, you can hear him.  He is saying, “If you love me, plug into the power.  Feed my sheep.  Tend my lambs with the touch of humble love, encouraging love, sacrificial love.”

Love is of God, and love is too good not to be true.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the power of love that sustains us and connects us to you and to others.  Help us practice humble love, encouraging love and sacrificial love during the coming week.  Empower us to take the risks to genuinely offer our love to others.  Amen

Blessings

Verna