March 15, 2024
Jesus Teaches About The Vine And The Branches, Part 2
John 15: 9-17
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: 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 servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
REFLECTION:
Jesus is stressing how important it is to LOVE. In fact, he expresses twice that his command is to LOVE EACH OTHER. Jesus is the ultimate model for loving each other. He laid down his life for us while we were sinners. The exposition gave some ways that we can love, listening, helping, encouraging and giving.
APPLICATION:
I will remain in Jesus by studying his word and praying in his name daily. And when it is difficult to obey his command to love each other, I will pray to God for the capacity to love.
PRAYER:
Lord thank you that I can bring even my difficulty in obeying you, to you in prayer. Thank you for your love as an example of how to love. I ask that you help me to love authentically and help me to trust you. You said my joy would be complete if I remain in you and obey you. Lord, I want the Joy that you give. Thank you Lord for your joy. In Jesus name, Amen.