Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day seven)
I almost missed what John was telling us about Jesus. Something important. Something encouraging. Crisis doesn’t change Christ.
“Having loved His own (in the past), He (now) loved them (in the present)” says v 1. Hmm. . . not sharks circling, or friends betraying, or death coming changed the Lord. In stress He stayed constant.
I am not that way. (Not without His help, at least.) Left to my self and my flesh, I can be fickle and self-loyal. I break promises and change my mind. Not Jesus!
I wonder what the world would be if He put that same rock-solid loyalty in me? When people disappointed me, I would still love them. When they were foolish and proud, when they weren’t fair, my response would rise from His loving heart rather than from selfishness and pride.
Having loved, He still does. Unchanging. Loyal. John remembered this about Jesus. I want to as well.
Jesus does not change despite crises and changing circumstances. He stays constant and unchanged when He faced with unfairness and cruelty. What special attributes of a servant leader He has! A servant leader will use emotional intelligence (EI) in dealing with crises. Jesus definitely had a high level of EI!
Phuong Le Callaway, PHD, CA