October 16, 2018 -John 15:9-11

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:9-11.

How much does Father God, love His Son, Jesus? The way we learn to love, is through the love our parents show us.  The fact of their human-ness, their love may be flawed.  

Joy comes from obedience in Father God’s commandments.  How often we want to do things our own way.  Luke 9:23 – Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”  Give up your own way….Depend and Trust in God.  

All our lives we are told to stand up for ourselves and to grow up. Philippians 2:15b – “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”  

Jesus gives us this commandment to live by.  Love each other in the same way I have loved you…and God loves His Son. Love is linked from God to Jesus, to us and to others. Would you give up your life for your friend?  Or does your friend have to ‘pass’ a test of friendship first?  Remember how Judas betrayed Jesus in the garden?  How much do you want to be a friend of Jesus?  “You are my friends if you do what I command” – Love one another!

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:12-14.