March 21 - What's in Your Closet?

John 13:34-35

While talking to my daughter on the phone the other day, we talked about how she is navigating through some alignment changes and role transitions in her work setting.  She decided to find some ways to look at her challenges ahead in some new ways.

So, she went through her closet, sorted through her clothes, weeded out some “old” outfits, and off she went to her local clothing consignment shop. 

As she traded in some of her old things, she made room in her budget and in her closet for some “new” things.  Even though they were someone else’s old things, she was putting them into use in her life, in a new way.  In a very real way, she was taking off the old and putting on the new!

Jesus says in today’s reading that He is giving a new commandment.  What was that NEW commandment?  Love one another! 

Something in me wants to say, “But Jesus, that isn’t anything new!!”

So how is Jesus’ challenging us to take a different perspective of what seems old and bring new life to His words, "Love one another?"

John 13:1 says, “Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

John 13:3-4 say, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper.  He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist” 

Jesus LOVED in a new way!  He took off the old garments of being self-serving or needing to prove Himself and put on NEW garments of love expressing itself in humble, sacrificial service. 

He humbly washed their feet although He knew how each of them was going to betray Him.  He knew He must go to the cross for them, even these who were weak, self-centered, and capable of the most heinous betrayal. He knew that His love for them would harden the hearts of some and renew the hearts of others.  Either way, He chose to love them to the end!

We love, but often with a conditional caveat.  “I will love you IF . . .” 

We love, but often with a guarded heart, shrinking back in fear.  We hold back on completely opening our hearts for fear of being hurt.  “I will love you WHEN . . .”

We love, but often with the weight of our self-protecting armor, putting up an impenetrable shield around our vulnerable hearts.  “I will love EXCEPT . . .”

How can I take off the old garments of self-centered “conditional,” “guarded” or “armored” love and boldly love as Jesus did?

How is God inviting me to weed out my "old" garments of love to make room for His "new" re-aligned garments of love?  How is God calling me to LEAN IN to His lavish, unselfish love for me and trust that I too can love as He did? 

Lord, help me to clothe myself in Your endless, sacrificial love for me!  Remove from me the shame of my past, how I have often been self-serving.  Show me how You want to reflect the light of Your amazing love through me today!