Love Anyway

Stop. Take a deep breath. Can you think of a friend or family member who used to be involved in a faith community but it not anymore?

Listen. John 13: 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

Reflect. The word “wash” in John’s Gospel isn’t about cleaning off dirt. Karoline Lewis says it is a “washing away that which would prevent full recognition of who Jesus is and what is about to happen. It exposes Judas. The washing makes possible having a share with Jesus, being in relationship with him, in his community, in the fold, as opposed to being cast out, like the blind man or going out, like Judas.”

Some will be washed but not be clean. Judas is washed but he leaves the fold—decides against being in relationship with Jesus and the disciples. Not everyone will be interested in what Jesus is about. Not everyone is interested in what we as a church are about. Love them anyway.

Pray. Gracious God, we may not be everyone’s cup of tea. We cannot, by our own efforts, please all people. Some will come and go into and out of our lives. Help us to love anyway. Amen.

Carry On. Did you think of someone at the beginning of this devotion? Have you thought about reaching out to them or at least saying a prayer for them?