Abiding Treasure- Love God, Love Others by Bryan Craig

Scripture

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”  John 15:12-17 ESV

Thought

John 15 is the famous “Abiding” chapter, and this section really sums it up well.  The goal of abiding is LOVE.  Jesus COMMANDS us to Love.  He just told us that if we abide in Him, we will bear great fruit.  Later, in Galatians, Paul teaches them that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience… but note that the first fruit mentioned is Love. 

I also think of the time when they asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was and He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:37-40 ESV  So, Jesus sums up all of Scripture and the meaning of life in 4 words, “Love God, Love Others.” 

IF we abide and begin loving others, Jesus told them he now called them friends.  This really blows me away to think that Jesus would call me His friend.  Wow! I think about my best friends and how they treat me and to think Jesus would possibly treat me like that- it really touches me. 

Jesus also says that they didn’t choose Him.  They were chosen!  And they were chosen for a purpose…to bring love to the world.  That’s what will change this world.  When we ask prayers of the Father in Jesus’ name, that are empowered by love, He gladly answers.  Abiding is powerful because it leads to a life of love.

Application

This motivates me to spend more time with Jesus.  He deserves my full and best attention every day, so that I can experience His love.  He truly fills my cup to overflowing, if I will let Him do it.  It is never to be hoarded for myself, but it actually reaches full joy when it is given away to others.  Am I letting His love flow to the people right around me?  Sure there are needy people and widows and orphans and poor countries…but how about my spouse?   How about my children?  How about my co-workers?  How about my next door neighbors? 

It feels really good to know that I was chosen.  He wants a relationship with me.  He wants to empower me.  He wants to bear fruit through me.  I want to ask God for more, not for myself, but for others.  I want ask for more Love.  I want to stop judging others.  That is not what I was appointed to do.  I was appointed to love.

Response

Father, thank you for Jesus, my friend.  Thank you for His example for me in how to love you and love others.  Jesus, thank you for choosing me and appointing me to love.  Thank you for laying your life down for me.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for filling me up and allowing me to bear fruit for the Kingdom.  Thank you for all the love in my life.  I know it comes from You. 

Help me, Lord, to keep abiding, and I ask you to give me love assignments every day.  I realize some of these assignments may be easier than others, but I will be obedient to love others, as you have commanded. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.