What Jesus Did : John 15:11-14 - Where Love Is Shared, Joy Overflows
by Phil Ware
Where Love Is Shared, Joy Overflows - John 15:11-14
"I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. This is what I command you: Love each other like I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do the things I tell you to do." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
What a wonderful blessing it is to be loved! We know God loves us with an everlasting love. He has called us into a family of love. He blesses us each out of his love for us. But Jesus, of course, is God's greatest example of love. When this love fills your heart and rescues you from sin and death, there must be joy!
Today's Prayer
Almighty and loving Father, God of all peoples, help me as I learn to be a more sacrificial and loving blessing to others. Keep my heart pure and my faith passionate. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
{Jesus said,} "I am the true vine; my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not make fruit. And he trims and cleans every branch that makes fruit, so that it will make even more fruit. You are already clean because of the teaching I have told you. Continue in me and I will continue in you. No branch can make fruit alone. It must continue in the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot make fruit alone. You must continue in me. "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a person continues in me and I continue in that person, then that person will make much fruit. But without me that person can do nothing. If a person does not continue in me, then he is like a branch that is thrown away. That branch dies. People pick up dead branches, throw them into the fire, and burn them. "Continue in me and follow my teachings. If you do this, then you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. You should make much fruit and show that you are my followers. This brings glory to my Father. I loved you like the Father loved me. Now continue in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I continue in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will continue in my love. I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. This is what I command you: Love each other like I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do the things I tell you to do. I don't call you servants now. A servant does not know what his master is doing. But now I call you friends because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and make fruit. I want this fruit to continue {in your life}. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other.-- John 15:1-17 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/1008-wjd.html
(c)2001-2006, Phil Ware and Heartlight, Inc.
©1996-2002, Heartlight, Inc. - http://www.heartlight.org