John 15:10
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
Thoughts from Dayna Spaulding
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
John chapters 14 and 15 take place while Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples. Jesus was speaking to them on the last night before He was given over for crucifixion. In chapter 14, Jesus set all of this up by telling us how we will be grafted into Him. He says He will give us the Holy Spirit that will enable us to keep His commandments and that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Then, in the beginning of chapter 15, Jesus is talking about being grafted into Him as a grape branch is connected into the vine. And in John 15:10-12, Jesus tells us what His commandment is!
Make it Real
I have heard this verse taught out of context. People think this is about loving the world. But this verse is different. It is about loving our brothers and sisters in the faith! This is a special love reserved for our heavenly family. This love should emulate the love that Christ demonstrates for us! Complete and total sacrifice!
When we think of the sacrifice that Jesus made our minds typically go straight to the cross, but Jesus’s sacrifice started the moment he was conceived in the womb of Mary. He stepped out of heaven to live a life just like one of us.
Can you imagine growing up with all the other kids who would misbehave, pursuing the earthly plans and passions. All the while Jesus, the Creator, knew that the passions of this world were not for Him. From the moment Jesus began His mission, He lived a nomadic life with no home to call His own or place to rest His head. Jesus put everything He had into His mission to bring salvation and redemption to the human race.
And when Jesus came face to face with the cross, He was not eager to bear our punishment. Three times Jesus asked that this final part of his mission be taken away. After all, hadn’t He done enough living a perfect life, sharing His Father’s word, healing the sick and the lame, all while being mocked and persecuted when everyone else was pursuing their own desires? But love required more.
Jesus knows what it means to live a life of love, even in difficulty. This is the example that He left for us to follow.
Jesus says in John 15:12-13, “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.”
This is a high calling! And while it is extremely rare that we are called to actually die for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we should seize the opportunity to lay down our lives for them as often as possible. This may look like giving of our time, energy, money, and emotions for the benefit of our heavenly family, even when it is not convenient.
You see, this life is not our own (1 Cor. 6: 19-20). We have been called to live a life on mission for the Heavenly Kingdom and it starts by loving our brothers and sisters in the Church no matter how difficult it may be. This is how the world will know you belong to Jesus (John 13:35). Jesus did not leave us to do this in our own strength, but He sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit to lead and strengthen us to accomplish His will in our lives.
Jesse Garnett
ACF Devo Team
End in Prayer
Jesus,
No one has ever lived like You lived, served like You served, sacrificed like You sacrificed. Thank You for defeating death to give us a new life, a gift, that You purchased on our behalf. Thank You for not leaving us alone when You left to be seated on Your throne in Heaven. Thank You for filling us with Yourself through the Holy Spirit.
I ask that You lead me from Your word and from within to serve those around me, especially my heavenly family that this would be my witness to the world. May I love my heavenly family like You loved us.
It is in Your mighty name I pray, Lord Jesus,
Amen!