After a wonderful Easter weekend, I went to bed Sunday night thinking about Monday. I started making my mental lists of what needs attention and how I need to get so much done this week. I felt the joy and hope of celebrating Christ's resurrection begin to slip away into the "real life" stuff of my normal schedule.
Maybe you feel it this morning too.
Back to the office, back to the grind. Back to putting the trash out by the curb on time, and remembering to pay that bill.
In the midst of my list-making, was reminded of Jesus' words in John 15:
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.17 This is my command: Love each other.
I am struck by the way joy is intertwined with love. The way joy is not a passive feeling that descends out of nowhere, but is the result of love in action.
Love each other in the same way I have loved you, Jesus says.
This morning, the trash still needs to get hauled out to the road, and daily chores must get done. But I am actively looking for ways to be a part of God's love as I move through my day.
Jesus' amazing love was demonstrated through his self-sacrifice on the cross.
As a resurrected Savior, his love is continually demonstrated through you and me, by daily giving of ourselves to serve others in love.
That's how Sunday's joy will be carried into Monday....and Tuesday...and Wednesday....
That's good, good stuff, my sweet friends.
Blessings, hope and joy,
Rachel Anne
