Guest SOAP post from Bible in 90 Days graduate and soon-to-be mentor, Daenel.
The reading for Friday is John 13.
Here is what Daenel heard:
Scripture
John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Observation
As this was Jesus’s final meal with his disciples, he was laying out his expectations for them after his departure. Although the commandment to love one another was not a new one, the standard for the demonstration of love was new because it pointed out 2 things: 1) the sacrificial nature of love and 2) it is produced through the New Covenant by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t want his death to breed discord amongst the disciples, he wanted them to continue to walk together in brotherly love that others may see and be drawn to him through them.
Application
Have you ever received an invitation to a family reunion and seriously thought about not going because you couldn’t deal with the drama? You know, you love your family and you’d do anything for them. Except spend time with them. Well, that’s how Jesus wanted us not to be. He wanted the church family to be able to come together in love without all the drama that comes with family gatherings.
When he said “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another”, he set the bar incredibly high ~ his love was sacrificial, he went to the cross and died for our sins; his love was without end, even though he knew he was about to be betrayed by one disciple and denied by another, he continued to demonstrate love. This is the type of love that he wants the church body to have for one another. The 35th verse says “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, Lord, for the examples of love that you have set before us. Thank you for showing us that love is patient, kind, generous and sacrificial. Thank you for being the incarnation of love. Sometimes it’s so hard to show love to those who hurt us. And sometimes families squabble but, Lord, help us to love one another and show love even when it’s difficult. Fill our hearts with love for one another so that people will know that we are your disciples. Thank you.
Amen
Daenel writes about navigating through life away from the library at Living Outside the Stacks. You can follow her on Twitter and “like” her on Facebook.
Don’t forget to record your own SOAP observations and feel free share your own thoughts or a link to your thoughts, here, too.
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