- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 17,520
20 February 2008
John 15 v 12-17
"This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus tells his disciples to love each other in the same way that he has loved them. Jesus is the ultimate example of love: in the way he treated his followers, and in giving his life for them. Another image of love which helps us understand God, is that of a parent. A loving parent creates an environment where their child is able to love them back, freely in response to the parent's love. I believe that is also what Jesus does, but if only that image of him could be understood by those who don't know him! Jesus longs to be in relationship with all people - what a wonderful thought!
The fruit Jesus commands us to produce is in the context of loving relationships, where he desires us to develop the kind of friendships he has with his followers, thereby demonstrating Jesus' love for those around us. The fruit which comes to mind is listed in Galatians 5, described as fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control". The challenge for us as Christians is to allow the Spirit to develop this fruit in our own lives, and we won't know we've got it until we start to demonstrate it in our friendships and relationships. And then the greater challenge is to demonstrate it with people we don't naturally find easy!
Lord, please help us to be open to your love and then share that love with others around us, especially those we find difficult to get on with. Amen.
Written by Debbie Orriss
John 15 v 12-17
"This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus tells his disciples to love each other in the same way that he has loved them. Jesus is the ultimate example of love: in the way he treated his followers, and in giving his life for them. Another image of love which helps us understand God, is that of a parent. A loving parent creates an environment where their child is able to love them back, freely in response to the parent's love. I believe that is also what Jesus does, but if only that image of him could be understood by those who don't know him! Jesus longs to be in relationship with all people - what a wonderful thought!
The fruit Jesus commands us to produce is in the context of loving relationships, where he desires us to develop the kind of friendships he has with his followers, thereby demonstrating Jesus' love for those around us. The fruit which comes to mind is listed in Galatians 5, described as fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control". The challenge for us as Christians is to allow the Spirit to develop this fruit in our own lives, and we won't know we've got it until we start to demonstrate it in our friendships and relationships. And then the greater challenge is to demonstrate it with people we don't naturally find easy!
Lord, please help us to be open to your love and then share that love with others around us, especially those we find difficult to get on with. Amen.
Written by Debbie Orriss
