John, known as the apostle of love, speaks about love frequently in both his gospel and in his letters. He shows us Jesus washing His disciples’ feet as a symbolic gesture of love. (John 13:1-17) Jesus then goes on to give us a new command based on love: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) John reflected on this greatly, writing at length about the practical outworking of love in his first letter. Love has to be shown in practical ways (‘let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.’ 1 John 3:18)
It can be easy to sentimentalise love and to think of it in romantic terms only. But just as Jesus demonstrated love in the very practical act of washing feet, our love can be demonstrated in very practical ways. As a church, we want to help those who are struggling; we want to be generous. If you can bring any gifts for adults or children to church, we will pass them on to the Salvation Army to give out to families who need gestures of love at this time to remind them that God is love.
