DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB The Gospel of John Chapter 15 (Lesson 2) “Love One Another”

DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB

The Gospel of John Chapter 15 (Lesson 2)

“Love One Another”

"Love One Another"

https://youtu.be/reQOzkCs9_w

John 15:9-17 (NLT)

⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 

¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

¹¹ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 

¹² This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

¹³ There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. 

¹⁵ I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.

Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 

¹⁶ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 

¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

The Apostle John speak a lot about loving one another (1 John 4:7-21), as Christ has loved us.

In John 13:34 (NLT), Jesus said,

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

When we think about what it really means to love, we may have to admit that we could never love others to the full extent that Jesus loves us.”

Is it really possible for anyone to actually fulfill this commandment?

Jesus was firmly rooted in the love of God as God.

Jesus was firmly established in an intimate living fellowship within the Godhead.

His actions and teachings had their life-source in God’s love.

The secret of the life of Jesus was his connectedness with God.

He withdrew regularly into a solitary place to meet and have fellowship with God.

Jesus was always abiding in God.

In our day we find it hard to withdraw from our busy schedules to be with God. 

We are hard pressed for time to listen to His voice of love and grace.

When we take the time to speak to God, we are often are not patient enough to wait on Him and listen to His voice.

We hear the invitation of Jesus to; “Remain in my Love”,

Jesus is saying, “don’t go in and out of His love”.

But, Remain! Abide! Stay! Listen…

Verse 9 of our text says, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love”. 

SO HOW EXACTLY, DID JESUS EXPERIENCE HIS FATHER’S LOVE?

What did Jesus get from God in exchange for his obedience?

Well, we know for a fact that God never gave his son a fancy car to drive around town, or even a horse and chariot, which would have been more appropriate in his time.

But we know also that the heavenly Father gave his son Jesus an infinite sense of belonging and being rooted in his love.

God said, “You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).

We hear the blessing spoken from the Father at the time of Jesus baptism.

God gave Jesus a firm foundation; the conviction of His presence, His counsel and His faithfulness, in times of trial and temptation.

Jesus received from His Heavenly Father a peace that far transcends the restlessness of this world.

The Father’s love assured Jesus of a sense of security and safety in a harsh world.

That is the affirmation that we too can experience the love of God through Jesus.

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you…”

As we experience the love of Jesus, we are the recipients of a love that goes far beyond material things.

• It is a love that transcends human comprehension…
• It is a love that cannot be earned…
• A love that knows no boundaries…
• A love that we couldn’t get if we chose it…

Love Each Other, Graham Kendrick 

https://youtu.be/2MblrWZDpPQ

PRAYER

Dear Father we are so very thankful for how you love us. We are at times overcome by the extent you went to prove your love for us. You sent Jesus to die in our place, so in His resurrection we too would be resurrected to new life. We pray that your love will shine forth from our lives to a lost and hurting world who needs the hope that Jesus brings to all who believe. We bring our prayer with praise and thanksgiving, In Jesus name we pray, amen!