March 24, 2013: They Never Said It Would Be Easy – Jon Gettings

When we talk about community, and living in vibrant relationships with one another, we can often pretend that because it’s what we should do it will just happen. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is hard work. It’s not easy. And there will be people along the way who will make this difficult for us. All the same – we are called to live this way. 

In the midst of the most difficult circumstances, the command given to us is to “be devoted to one another in love.” Rome was a church torn by strife – and Paul’s advice is love. A willful choice to seek the highest and greatest good of the other. It sounds a lot like Leviticus 19.18. We often say, “love your neighbor as yourself …” and forget the words that immediately precede that in the very same verse. Those words read: “DO not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” God’s command to love came in the midst of revenge and grudges … no one said this would be easy.