I’m back in Roseville after two weeks in the mountains of Montana. One highlight was returning to Christikon, the Bible camp that remains a source of spiritual rejuvenation for me. A week of “pastor’s continuing education” was led by a religion scholar who had served on the camp staff with me 30 years ago. Neither of us imagined the lives and vocations God would ultimately call us into but we were quickly reminded of the joyful memories we created all those years ago.
As we journey into the third week of our series “Complete Joy,” the call to love one another takes center stage. This Sunday we’ll read 1 John 3:16-24, and this passage invites us to understand love not merely as an emotion but as a profound, selfless action modeled by Jesus. True love, according to John, is demonstrated through tangible acts of kindness and generosity, reflecting the very heart of Christ’s mission.
This love goes beyond mere words and is shown through our actions and truth. We are called to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters, to extend our hands to those in need, and to embody love in all that we do. John challenges us to examine our lives and see whether our love is genuine and active.
In today’s world, where individualism often prevails, this call to selfless love can be countercultural. Contemporary thinker Henri Nouwen reminds us that “the spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” Our faith compels us to engage with the world around us, to meet needs, and to show God’s love through our actions.
I give thanks for the continuity and ministry of Christikon. It is the place where I came to understand the ways in which God’s love could be made tangibly real in my own life. And it’s the place where I learned how to practice sharing that same love with others.
This week, let’s commit to living out this radical love. Let our faith be visible through our deeds, and may our actions speak volumes about the transformative power of God’s love in our lives. As we do so, we will find our joy made complete.
May God’s peace find you today. -Pastor Peter
Let us pray… Gracious God, empower us to live out your radical love, showing kindness and generosity in all we do, and reflecting your heart through our actions. Amen.