For the past five weeks or so I have been teaching the Soul Sisters at our church on Thursday mornings. Each semester, they choose a book to study and this spring we are in the Johannine epistles and the short book of Jude. Anyway, we are in the third chapter of 1 John and are currently in the area of the book where John is discussing the mandate of Jesus to love one another. In fact, I think that this is actually softer language than what John wants to use. He spends time trying to drive the point home that we should be focused on loving one another – sacrificial love.
During the lesson that I was teaching this morning, I was reminded of God’s mandate to be dedicated to an unparalleled commitment of love. In fact, I was mentally carried back to my time in seminary when I spend more than three years in the presence of the most Godly men I have ever known – day after day.
After having explored a number of schools to attend, I settled on a small seminary on the south side of Indianapolis that focused on the original languages (Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic). Additionally, there were strong courses in theology and it was no secret that I was the least theologically trained student in class when I arrived.
While I was expecting a great experience in school, I was not prepared for the love and caring that was demonstrated to me for the entire time that I attended seminary. Dr. Branine, an icon of the faith, was the lead theologian and made sure that the curriculum stayed true to the word of God. Dr. Kendrick, a world class missionary who had spent more than 50 years in the depths of Africa, welcomed me with open arms and would literally run down the hall to meet me, usually with a huge hug, as he told me how much he loved me. I don’t know that I have ever witnessed that sort of commitment to loving one another shamelessly and openly.
My best friend at school, Paul, suffered a heart issue eight or nine years ago. Before he was wheeled into surgery, he left me a voicemail reminding me of his love for me and that he would see me in heaven if the procedure wasn’t successful. Thankfully, he is still with us. I have never had that kind of message left for me, before or since.
But, there wasn’t a day on campus that I didn’t feel cradled in the love of God, expressed through my professors and classmates. I can’t even find the words to express what I felt… but it was better than anything that I could have ever imagined. That’s the way that it is with God. We may think that we have great plans for our lives, but when we trust the Lord, His plans are far superior to whatever we had in mind.
I miss my seminary days. Make no mistake, though. Our family members have great love for one another – it’s just that I experienced something so strong that I didn’t think it was humanly possible to be a part of. Every professor and classmate was committed to an absolutely unalterable demonstration of love and caring for one another – every one…
When I drove on campus, it was like God was parting the curtain for me to drive in – and then I was swallowed up in this “sanctuary” of learning under protection and love unlike anything I have ever known. But there are times that I still experience those feelings of total joy – not happiness – JOY. Something tangible that was a condition of my heart – a choice to live that way – in unity with all the other students in the seminary.
Our verse for tonight is from the first epistle of the apostle John. John reminds us of the mandate to love one another as Jesus loves us. He tells us, in 1 John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
My encouragement this evening is that we are called to a higher standard than the world at large. We are to stretch to try and meet the directives of our Lord. My prayer is that we may all affirm our commitment to really love one another with our entire being – the way that John asks us to. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace… and love!