John 14:15-17
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
We can be guilty sometimes of throwing around powerful words without giving them the weight they are due. Love is one of those words. My wife and I say we love each other all the time. Sometimes it’s with true sincerity, and the tone in our voice, the look in our eye, and the total time-stopping focus that we give the message conveys all that we truly intend. Other times, we use it to end a sentence.
“Hey, can you pick up some milk at the store?”
“Sure”
“Ok, thanks, love ya.”
As believers, we say that we love God all the time. We repeat it over and over in our prayers, we sing it in our songs, it’s just a given. But what does it really mean to us?
Jesus is basically saying in this passage, “to be clear, love in my eyes (and in my Father’s) isn’t just a word. In fact, love looks a whole lot like obedience. And I’m well aware that sometimes obedience is difficult. Sometimes obedience is costly, and sometimes it seems impossible. But I’m going to send you a Helper, someone who will be with you, encourage you, teach you and help you accomplish the impossible. And just so you don’t think I’m all talk and no action, I’m about to show you what real love, real obedience looks like. And I’m going to ask you, with the help of the Spirit to live out that same kind of love in my name.”
- How do you know when someone truly loves you?
- Is there an area of your life where your love for God isn’t really expressed through obedience? How can you take a step in the right direction this week?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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Today's reading - John 14:15-17. "As believers, we say that we love God all the time. We repeat it over and over in our prayers, we sing it in our songs, it's just a given. But what does it really mean to us?"