In this book The Way of Love: A Practical Guide to Following Jesus, Rev. Scott Gunn of Forward Movement begins with the two very foundational commandments of our faith: Love God and Love your Neighbor. Matt. 22:37-39. Or as John tells us – God is love, and when we love we are of God, and when we do not love we are not of God. 1 John 4:7-12. In looking at these verses, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry says we are part of the Jesus Movement that is “built on the unconditional love of God for the world and the mandate to live that love.” This book is the practical guide to cultivating certain ancient Christian practices so that we may live into that love and be the Jesus Movement to and in the world. These seven practices are: Turn. Learn. Pray. Worship. Bless. Go. Rest. The Eastertide study covers seven weeks. (Easter 2023)
We do not turn to earn God’s love but we turn in order to give thanks and enjoy God’s vast love for us. As John writes, we love others because God first loved us. 1 John 4:19.
“Scripture is like a river again, broad and deep, shallow enough here for the lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim.” We can never quit learning.
In any discussions about prayer, the question arises about how do we learn to pray. How can we make prayer part of daily life? Rev. Gunn gives us several areas in which we can learn to pray daily.
Deliver us, when we draw near to you, for coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, we may worship you in spirit and truth.
Being a blessing simply means loving others as best we can. It requires actively listening to others, intuiting their needs, and serving them in whatever way we can.
The purpose of the Twelve was not to simply follow Jesus around as his entourage, but to be sent out and to proclaim that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
When we Rest, in prayer or contemplation, we are saying “yes” to God; when we Rest in the presence of others, we are saying “yes” to human relationships, and when we simply Rest with ourselves, we are saying “yes” to life itself.
The Way of Love is not an academic study, but more of a how-to book intended to be a means for each of us to intentionally develop better everyday habits which will help us live into our life in Christ.
