Scripture connections Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22
Love is the theme of John 13-15. It's in the air, and I am not just talking about simple, temporary, convenient, conditional puppy love. No, I am talking about life-saving, ginormous, incomprehensible, everlasting, perfect and graceful Godly love. Jesus not only talks the talk, He walks the walk. We are able to hear it, see it, and feel it in action. He tells us,
15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
In other words, Jesus wants us to do more than just say we believe in Him. Thank goodness we don't have to earn our salvation, but Jesus does want us to love Him by doing what He says. He goes on to say,
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
So, what is it Jesus wants us to do? It's simple and beautiful and complicated all at the same time. It's selfless like Jesus and His great sacrifice for us and huge like God, Our Father, and His amazing mercy and grace for us.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
And how does Jesus love us? He loves us deeply and unconditionally, free of judgement, full of patience and understanding, always and forever, right where we are. Jesus loves us enough to wash our filthy feet Himself and to die for our most horrible sins. He loves us so much that He never lets His tragic life story in this world get in the way of His selfless service to others. He loves us beyond our wildest imaginations, and He wants us to experience Heavenly joy and peace here and now.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Yep. That's true love, and it really does have the power to make everything so much better than okay.
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
Thank you for Your beautiful and graceful love for me. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus, whom I believe in with all heart. Forgive me for all the times I fail to love others as You love me. I pray you will work in me to make me more patient and understanding, more selfless and forgiving like Jesus. Help me, Lord, to love without holding back, the way Jesus does.
In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,
Amen
Joy and peace of Christ,
Good one here Lindsay. It bring to mind a scripture verse I've had stuck to my bathroom mirror for the past 2 yrs. John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Though the help of the Holy Spirit we can do this. Obedience is key in the believers life and starts with the relationship between parent and child which i know you work at daily. Love you and looking forward to spending the holidays with ya'll.
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