Day 104 | Wednesday, 1 July 2020

Day 104  |  Wednesday, 1 July 2020

The first day of a new month.  It is Wednesday which means the faithful from the Woodlands will gather at noon for The Lord’s Prayer for week 15.

As of 6/29/2020 at 2:00 PM the COVID cases in Chautauqua County were at 129 with 34 in our Battalion.

This is a new month.  It has not been lived into yet.  One thing we know for sure is that there are 31 days in the month of July.  You may have appointments scheduled along with birthdays and anniversaries.  There is one annual event in this new month, July 4th.  That celebration will look a bit different this year for all of us.  The wonderful thing about a new day and a new month is that there may be adventure awaiting us.  We do not know what is in store for us individually in this new month.  We may have some predictions based on previous months of COVID living.  I can predict that my garden will produce new vegetables during this month. 

There is something special about that which is new.  Although our days may seem to be the same, they are not.  We have our routines but there are always surprises, new experiences, new learnings, and new realities.

Every day the disciples were with Jesus, they experienced something new.  They witnessed healings.  They saw how he cared for the masses of people, even little children.  Then during the last days of his life on earth, he gives his disciples a “new commandment”.  It is now familiar to us.  Let me ask you, how are you doing with this commandment?  Are there times when you find it difficult to follow?  Are there certain individuals who test your ability to follow it?

Below, please read the four different versions of the “New Commandment”.

John 13:34-35
CEB 34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

The Message 34 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. 35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other."

The New revised Standard Version 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

New International Version 34 “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.”

Thank you for getting us through to this day.  Gracious God, we enter into this new month with caution as we are so uncertain about the pandemic that is raging.  We are uncertain about the up coming holiday and what may happen in the weeks following.  Perhaps we just do not want anything new and yet here is Jesus’ new commandment to love one another.  Yes, Lord, there are days when that is a challenge.  Hear our prayers.  Amen.

​Today: how to love the unloveable.