Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

It’s an expression we’ve all heard. Maybe even used.

Think of a hail Mary pass near the end of a football game. Or the person who is in such financial ruin that the only thing they can think of doing to help their situation is to rob a bank.

There are days when it feels as if we are living in desperate times. There are things happening in our world, in our country, and sometimes in our individual lives that feels desperate.

Jesus lived in times that were truly desperate. The Jews were under harsh Roman oppression. There was the constant threat of violence or war. There weren’t modern social supports, medicine or hospitals. Many children died in childbirth. Many women died giving birth. Starvation was normal. Most people didn’t live into their forties.

And then there was Jesus himself. In John 13 he was facing his own betrayal, torture, abandonment, crucifixion and death. As a result, he gave his followers a “new commandment.” What was it? To run for the hills? To take out their swords to fight? 

No. Here it is: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (verse 34).

There are certainly desperate times that call for desperate measures. But as followers of Jesus, I think tweaking that expression could help us focus: Desperate times call for loving measures.

When you are feeling desperate it helps when someone shows you love. It is also true, therefore, that when someone else is feeling desperate your love improves their situation or attitude.

Life isn’t easy. None of us were ever given that promise. But we were given a calling.

Desperate times call for loving measures.

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Notes:

—New podcast: “Jesus said he came to give us abundant life. What did he mean?” Click here, or subscribe to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Amazon Music or Audible.

—Sermon. “Desperate times call for loving measures.” December 4, 2022. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.