May 7, 2018 Monday

““As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. “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. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. “These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:9-17 NKJV)

            There are so many words here which rather than reading over we need to understand what they means and how they impact us. If we are not careful we can get lost in how the world defines things and miss the whole meaning.

Love – Too many see love and lust as much the same thing.  Having sex to many is the same as making love.  In 1Corinthians 13 we see that love is not a feeling or a desire but a decision and a commitment to not only care for someone but to help them grow to be the person God created them to be.

Abide – Abide is much more than just staying or living somewhere.  To abide also means to remain and to endure no matter what takes place.

Commandments – We may limit this to the Ten Commandments but that would miss the meaning in this passage.  One of the meanings of commandment is to live “that which is prescribed to one by reason of his office”.  This definition helps us better understand for how can one abide if we do not do what is necessary to abide?  We, not God, leave because we are not willing to live a life of abiding.

Life – God defines life so much higher than we do.  Life is not just existence but is allowing the breath of God to invigorate us and for the Holy Spirit to re-create us and guide us to a calling we cannot even imagine.  Life is when our soul through God rises above the selfish and self-centered lusts and desires.  Life is willing to fully have a relationship with God and like Jesus be willing to offer all we are for God and for those God loves!

Fruit – Fruit comes from the root which means to snatch or to take away.   Fruit is seen as a work, offering or gift that brings something new and gives glory to God.  At first the root meaning may not seem to fit but if fruit is offered for someone to accept the fruit it must replaced something that must be snatched and taken away!

            Jesus goes on to define the fullness of love as being willing to “lay down one’s life for his friends.”  While this means to die for others it also means to live our lives for others laying down our selves for the good of others.  Some may say this is self-destructive but we must remember that God lays down His life for us on a daily basis!

            Looking at these definitions do you think you love God?  Are you abiding in God’s love?  Are you really living or just existing from day to day?  Can you see fruit in your life?

            Sunday I was able to go to worship and Sunday school.  I was very weary the rest of the day but I still enjoyed being able to join in corporate worship.

            Monday was a time of recovering.  Bonnie and I had our devotional and we walked.  I am reading through Isaiah above the regular Bible reading.  I am reading 6 chapters a day looking at its meaning.  A book by a Christian Rabbi brought up some amazing ideas so I want to check them out.