It Isn’t Easy

May 14, 2025

It Isn't Easy

John 13:34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

It Isn’t Easy

I’ve been wondering lately – since the core of the gospel is love – how come Christianity doesn’t always look like love? What is it about our human nature that seems to dwell more in the things we don’t love about each other?

Is it some standard of perfection we have, that we can’t meet ourselves, but we still put on other people? Is it the illusion of control that makes us non-loving? Is it our fear of not being loved that gets in the way of embracing loving other people?

Choosing love sounds a lot easier than it turns out to be. And yet – when we look at the times we’ve experienced joy – the decision to love and be loved is at the center of those moments. The challenge of loving one another opens our hearts and feeds our souls.

Reflection Questions:

1) What would help you love someone you find challenging? Can you identify what makes it challenging to love?

2) Do you think you ever make it hard for people to love you? Why do you think that is?

3) How could you actively choose love, knowing it might not be easy?

Prayer:

Dear God, Please help me to find my way forward to be an instrument of your love in the world – more and more – day by day. In Jesus Name, Amen