What Jesus Did! 'Remain in My Love: Obey!' — John 15:9-10

Friday, October 7, 2022

ToGather: Freed to Serve

Jesus paid the price to free us from sin, death, and hell so we could serve others in love.

 Watch Video
[Jesus said,] "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."
— John 15:9-10 NLT

Key Thought

When little children are disciplined for playing in the road or walking on railroad tracks, they see the discipline as painful, unnecessary, and limiting. They don't want limitations. However, if they could understand the danger and the parents' desire to protect them, they would see that discipline as loving. A parent calls on a child to obey because obedience protects and blesses that child. Likewise, when Jesus asks us to obey, let's not see it as something onerous, burdensome, and limiting. Instead, let's see Jesus' command, and our obedience to that command, as the protection of a loving Savior trying to safeguard, bless, and care for his beloved younger brothers and sisters. When we obey Jesus, we remain under the protection of his love rather than in the danger of our rebellion!

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, your ways are not my ways. Your understanding is way beyond my understanding. So I trust that when you call me to obey, you do so because of your protective love. Please know that I will do my best to obey you and your Son in order to show you my love in return. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Romans 16:19-20
  • Colossians 2:6-7
  • Hebrews 5:7-9

Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, October 7, 2022

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Wants Us to Remove Any Hidden Idolatry'
"Then the priest will go in and examine the mildew on the walls. If he finds greenish or reddish streaks and the contamination appears to go deeper..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God Works Through His Servants' (Acts 21:18-19)
"The next day [after arriving in Jerusalem,] Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Merciful and Compassionate' (Jl. 2:13)
"Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Worshiping in the Spirit' (Re. 1:10-11a)
"On the Lord's Day I [John] was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ..."

Illustration

Illustration of John 15:9-10 NLT — "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."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!