God is the creator of heaven and
earth. Everything He created is good. God is love. He demonstrated His love by
sending His Son to earth to save the world. He so loved the world that He gave.
True love is about giving.
Most people have a distorted view of love. What’s in it for me? What have you done for me lately? It’s more
about getting than giving.
God commands His people to love one
another, even our enemies. So, true love is more just a feeling, it’s a
supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “I am the true
vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear
fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it
may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have
spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I
am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5
The cultivation of vineyards was important to the life of Israel. Jesus used something very familiar to illustrate this union that we have with Him.
Jesus is the true vine. We are the branches. The Father is
the vinedresser. He said, “Abide in me and I in you.” Abiding in Jesus means developing
your relationship through time spent with Him. It also involves obedience.
Apply what you read in your Bible. You obey not out of compulsion but simply
out of love and gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.
To abide is to remain in fellowship with Jesus so that His
life, love and joy can flow into you and through you like a conduit or channel.
This occurs as you allow the Holy Spirit, to do His transforming work.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit
and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:8
Fruit is the proof of a true disciple and fruit brings glory
to God.
A branch is useless by itself. It can’t produce fruit on its
own because it gets life from the vine. Being united with Jesus through the
Spirit makes fruit bearing possible. Since you are just the branches, you need
to abide in Jesus because without Him you can do nothing.
Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I 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 be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:9–11
God does not merely love. He is love. That is His nature. The
Father loves the Son with perfect, everlasting love. Jesus loves you the same
way. His command is that you abide in His love.
Jesus proved His love for the Father because He was willing to
humble Himself, submit to the Father and obey His commandments. Likewise, the
proof that you abide in Jesus’ love is your willingness to humble yourself,
submit to Jesus, obey His commandments.
The result of abiding in His love is that you will have the
joy of the Lord in you and your joy tank will be all filled up.
Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Happiness is
fleeting and superficial. Joy springs from within. Jesus doesn’t promise you
will live happily ever after. He promises you His joy. No matter what happens
in this life, you can still have the joy of the Lord.
Jesus says, abide in His love by keeping His commandments. What is His command? Love one another the
same way that He loves you.
God’s love is more
about giving than getting. It’s about how can I best serve you rather than
“what’s in it for me?” It’s a love that seeks the very best for others.
It’s an unconditional, sacrificial, selfless love that puts other’s
needs ahead of your own. It’s an active choice - not a feeling or emotion.
That kind of love is not natural. It’s not something
you can just muster up on your own. It is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit.
Be selfless and humble, consider others more significant than yourself, look out not just for your own interests, but also the interests of others. That’s the mind of Christ.
That’s exactly how Jesus displayed His love. Jesus put our needs ahead of His rights. He was willing to sacrifice His life for us. There is no greater love than to lay down your life for others.
The proof that Jesus loved the Father was His willingness to
submit and obey His commands. Even though He had equal status with God, He
willingly submitted to the Father in order to carry out the salvation plan.
Jesus put our needs ahead of His
divine rights, He came to serve. He sacrificed His life. It’s easy to serve
when it doesn’t cost you anything. But if there is a price to pay then people
quickly lose interest. The test of a truly submissive mind is how much you are
willing to sacrifice.
But here is the paradox… the more you
give, the more you receive, the more you sacrifice, the more God blesses. That’s
why obedience leads to joy; you bear much fruit, become more like Jesus and it
glorifies God.
God wants you to be a conduit of His love. Allow God’s love to
flow through you. Love others the same way Jesus loves you. Because
God is love and all the other fruit of the Spirit grow out of love.
Be willing to put others first. This involves
selflessness, serving and sacrifice. Jesus’
life and love flow to you because you are connected to Him. He is the vine and
you are the branches. God’s love has been poured into your hearts through the
Holy Spirit who has been given to you. Now He wants you to unleash that love
and let it flow to others. Love them in the same way that He loves you. No
matter whether it’s your brothers and sisters in Christ, your family, your friends, or your enemies. Be a conduit of
God’s love.
So now faith, hope, and love abide,
these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
