Abiding In Love

Abiding in Love

John 15:9-17, NKJV

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15No 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. 16You 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. 17These things I command you, that you love one another.

Setting the Scene

Each verse in this passage can be unwrapped as a delightful gift that keeps on giving. The first gift is a dwelling place where we can live and remain—Christ’s love. The way we appropriate this gift is by keeping his commandments. We abide in his love when we obey, and we abide in his Word when we trust that he loves us. Both these are aspects of abiding in him. The second gift contains Christ’s commands, the gift of direction and application. We find this gift is true every day as we remain in Christ. The third gift overflows with joy. This joy is not generated from within us but is an overflow of Christ’s joy. Since he is in us, his joy flows through us. This joy is immediate, ongoing, and intimately connected with the “things I have spoken to you.” The absence of joy can often be traced to a disconnection from his Word.

The command to love others is the central command that flows out of our shared love from God and for God. When Jesus was asked to summarize all of God’s law, he pointed out love for God and love for neighbor (see Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34). These two are inseparable parts of the same package. When we read verse 13, we discover that the love Jesus is commanding us to exercise is sacrificial, exactly the kind of love Jesus is about to demonstrate at the Cross. The next package is the gift of close relationship with Jesus. Though we remain servants, we are now also friends. Another gift is the double assurance “I chose you and appointed you”; we were given a place and purpose.

Getting Personal

How do the promises of Christ bring you joy?

What can you do to show your friendship to Christ?

The dynamic relationship pictured by the attachment between branch and vine implies flow, action, and obedience. Every moment the branch remains, it receives life. Jesus pictured it as a constant, vibrant interaction.

Talking to God

Thank God for the gifts described in this passage: the dwelling place of his love, his guidance and direction, his joy, the ability to love others sacrificially with himself as an example, status as Christ’s friend as well as servant, and a chosen place and purpose in his Kingdom.