The Little Letters - Day 24

5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Man, there is a lot of love going on in this text. As well, there should be. Love is the overarching theme of John’s letters and John’s life.

If you were to find the overarching theme of your life, what do you think it would be? If someone were to write your epitaph today, what do you think they would say? Would they say, “She’s all about loving others?”, or “He always encouraged people?” It may be hard to know.
 
I just did the memorial service for Bill Johnsson, and through the whole thing, we were reminded that his life was one that was focused on how Jesus is All! He wrote it in his books and articles, but more importantly, he lived it in his life! His life was not just focused on Jesus as much as it was living out this truth in his life. Those of us who knew him were blessed to see someone of such stature committing both his professional and personal life to the pursuit of this kind of love.
 
John is writing this letter in order to remind everyone that reads it to love and to Love Well. I guess we need to be reminded of this time and time again, and I suppose this is nothing new. Even in the 1st and 2nd centuries, they were admonished to make sure that they did not give up the primary and elemental impulse that Jesus taught us; That we are to love each other with reckless abandon.
 
It is my hope that there is a deep abiding with this truth. As we read this text, we are reminded of the initial meaning of the Gospel, that we are loved, and we should love. Perhaps we need to be reminded in order to maintain our humanity. Without love, what are we?

1. What would your epitaph say? 
2. What do you think it means to love someone? 
3. Does it make sense that Crosswalk Church chose “Lovewell” as its mission and vision?