John 15:9-17 Staying in God’s Love
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
The patient humble kindness of our Creator is always extended to whosoever will receive it. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 defines love this way, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
God’s love is a fortress where our hearts can rest. In any human relationship there are always imperfections, always work to be done to build up the relationship but God’s love towards us is perfect, a place where peace is undisturbed and our restlessness can give way to complete trust.
God’s love towards us is perfect but our love toward God must be guarded and cultivated. Remember from the beginning of this chapter that guarding and cultivating are the vinedressers job and the Father is the vinedresser. He cultivates our lives so that depths of love and heights of peace beyond the ken of mortal man are afforded us who attain it by abiding. Simply put, relax God loves you.
Jesus calls us his friends. One of Jesus’ friends is Stan Gerlach, a successful businessman who was well known in the community. Stan was giving a eulogy at a memorial service when he decided to share the gospel. At the end of his message, Stan told the mourners, “You never know when God is going to take your life. At that moment, there’s nothing you can do about it. Are you ready?” Then Stan sat down, fell over and died. His wife and sons tried to resuscitate him, but there was nothing they could do – just as Stan had said a few minutes earlier.
In Matthew 101:32-33 Jesus said,” “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
Disown is opposite abide. Stan chose to abide and you can hear the voice of Jesus like thunder, “Dad, Dad! Stan is here! My friend Stan I was just telling you about him! He’s here!” What a reception! Would I, I wonder merit anything close to that?
Friendship is a two way street. Jesus is faithful to us. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” Our whole work is steadfastly resting in his faithfulness, abiding in the vine.
Since we have life and love and holiness and everything we need as Christ cares for us by leading us gently and humbly toward our highest good. We have much to share with one another of life and love and goodness and gentleness and patience and kindness and faithfulness each looking for the highest good of others and letting Jesus take care of ourselves. As the apostle says in 1John4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
brotherpayne 