WATCHWORD:
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: 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 servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:10-15 NIV
Meditation:
Taking Care of Business
There is a phrase in the secular world, “Making Love”, that conjures up things that do not belong in a devotional. However, that phrase does communicate an important process in the deepening of a friendship, the strengthening of the bonds in a marriage or a partnership, or the trust that often forms in a Bible Study group. A process that requires discipline, both active and passive, trust and mutual acceptance.
From a spiritual standpoint, we are called to love others, and Jesus goes so far as to tell us to love others as He has loved us. We have all experienced love from others. First our parents, then from friends, and the one we now embrace as spouse or partner. As those friendships grew, there was a tangible quality to it, and the character of that relationship subtly changed.
Something happens to relationships if they are neglected. Beautiful flowering plants require love in the form of nourishment and water. Without that care, the plant will not survive. If the parties in a relationship do not take care of business, or do not express love in words and actions, that relationship withers and can die, as well.
If I may use an example of one of my daughters, whom I believe is one of the great relationship maintainers I have ever known. She has a phrase that she uses and I have embraced here: “Taking care of business.” For her, taking care of business requires effort and discipline, but it has a great payoff. Her circle of friends is extensive, and that is reflected in the frequent visits of friends to her home, and to her going out of her way to nurture those friendships. She has flown from California to New York state because her friend was in need of her presence; no whines, no complaints, just love, taking care of business. She has been on many other trips, for the same reason.
Not long ago, I had a serious complication from minor surgery. It was after 9 p.m. I tried to ignore the problem, but could not. I called my friend. In 10 minutes he was helping me, and solved the problem. We have a friendship, and we both take care of business.
Jesus calls us to love others, then we all respond in our own style and our own ways. Sometimes taking care of business translates into fixing meals and taking them to people who have need. Sometimes it translates into cards that are sent commemorating birthdays and anniversaries, etc. Sometimes it translates it into regular phone calls. It is also reflected in remembering birthdays, and special events.
It is important that we take care of business, that we prize the friendships that we have for they are of value. That we honor the ones we love, through love. This is part of what Jesus is saying to us. When we take care of business, we value the other. We like the idea of being loved and that is one-side of the coin. The other side is go and do likewise. It is a balance that makes life rich. So be it
An Observation:
A man does what he can,
Is what he does,
Loses what he cannot do
Or be.
Closing Prayer:
Father, You are the potter and I am the clay. Lord, You know who my dearest friends are. I want them to see Jesus when they see me. Lord, please mold me in such a way that You can use me to be the feet of Jesus to them. Whatever the need is, I want to be there for them, Lord. I want to pray with them and for them. I want to study Your Word with them. I want to sing praises to You with them. I want to listen to them with a compassionate heart when they are hurting. Lord, may I always be willing to push pride off of me and allow You to shape me into someone who lives like Jesus does! I love you, Lord! Amen
