Good Morning!! At the very beginning of Jesus’ farewell discourse, He said, " Hey, a new commandment I give to you, love each other as I have loved you. This is how they’ll know you’re My disciples." He was telling them to love the way He loved. Is that possible? I don't think so!
So, why did He tell us to do it? Maybe, because He was assuming we would be
abiding in Him,...and that we would remain in Him,...so that Jesus would be
doing the love through us.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this:Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."—John 15:10-13 (NIV)
" Remaining in Christ," just as a branch must remain in the vine, bears supernatural fruit: obedient, joy-saturated acts that can only be attributed to Jesus. Sacrificial love is one of those fruit. It is not an option, but rather a natural outpouring of Christ’s love for others when we allow Him to live through us,...and this speaks louder to the world than any of our words. We are described, and we are defined as His disciples was, by this love moving through us.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this:Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."—John 15:10-13 (NIV)
" Remaining in Christ," just as a branch must remain in the vine, bears supernatural fruit: obedient, joy-saturated acts that can only be attributed to Jesus. Sacrificial love is one of those fruit. It is not an option, but rather a natural outpouring of Christ’s love for others when we allow Him to live through us,...and this speaks louder to the world than any of our words. We are described, and we are defined as His disciples was, by this love moving through us.
Have you ever noticed that those that are the hardest to love, seem to need it the most.
Lord, You love us just like the Father loves You. We want to remain in that
love, we want that joy,...and we want the obedience that springs forth from
being a branch on Your vine. In all honesty, our flesh wants to judge and condemn and punish!...but we choose to give in
to Your love instead. Love others through us, just as You love us. Amen.
" If you can't see or show love, you are not a Christian,...you're just playing one."
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