In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” In John 15:12 Jesus gave the command that He wanted us to keep, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” In these days of stay at home orders many of us have wondered how we can show love and minister to others since we cannot be near them. In these days of stay at home orders we have to get creative in how we minister to each other and show our love.
Fortunately we live in an age where technology can keep us in touch with each other without actually being able to touch each other. In addition to staying in touch we need to remember that in these days of stay at home orders we need to pray for each other even more than ever before.
In these days of stay at home orders we must be careful that we do not focus so much on how to minister and show love to those at a distance that we forget that we need to minister and show love to those we are staying at home with. How can we do that?
One very important way is remembering to practice common courtesy. Using the “magic words” of “Please” and “Thank You” goes a long way to show our appreciation and respect for those we stay at home with. Taking care of our own things is another way of showing our love for those we are at home with. Expecting others to pick up after us gives the impression that we expect them to serve us. On the other hand, picking up after others when it is not expected is a way for us to show our love and respect for them.
Chances are we know the people we are staying home with pretty well. We have a pretty good idea of what they like and what aggravates them. In these times when we are cooped up together we can show our love and minister to others by being extra careful to do those things we know they like and being even more careful to keep from doing things we know they do not like. Another way to minister and show love to those close to us is to tell them that we love them and appreciate what they do for us rather than assuming they know.
John chapter 13 tells the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. As an introduction to this act of utmost humility, John explained that Jesus knew the hour of His death was near. Jesus knew He was going back to the Father and resume His position of power and majesty. Jesus even knew that one those whose feet He was about to wash would betray Him, another would deny Him, and all of them would desert Him. And knowing all of this, John tells us that Jesus rose from His place at the table, removed His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist and washed those dirty, stinky feet. All of them.
When Jesus finished washing their feet, He returned to His place at the table and asked, “Do you understand what I have just done for you?” The lesson was that we are to serve each other just as He served those disciples. In these days of stay at home orders, we must do what we can to reach out and minister to those who are away from us, but maybe Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.is even more important that we reach out and minister and show love to those who are closest to us. John 13:17—“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”