Day Three

Scripture: John 15:12-17.  J.B. page 1633.

Observation.  Jesus commands us to abide in His love and immediately commands us to love one another as He loved us.

One of the fruits of abiding in Jesus is love for your brothers and sisters in Christ. And you are also known as a friend of Jesus.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command” (verses 13-14).

Application.  God commands to love.  How do you do that?  You do that when you know that love is more than an emotion.  It is a decision.  Jesus made the decision to lay down His life for us.

If we abide with Jesus, it should be evident in our love for one another.  You encourage one another, you pray for one another, you serve one another, you look to their interests above your own.

Love is a decision, just as it was for Jesus.  He modeled it for us.

And as we trust and obey Jesus, we know He is our friend.  He is our Lord and God, but He is intimate as a friend.  We can talk with Him.  We can share our heart, our doubts, our frustrations and biggest and smallest hurts.  He is our friend.

Today, choose to demonstrate your love to others by encouraging, forgiving, praying or serving someone else.  What is one practical thing you can do today to demonstrate love? ____________________________

And abide in Jesus by talking to Him as you would a friend.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me.  Teach me to love others the way you loved me.  Thank you for not only being my God and Savior, but my true friend.  Give me courage today to demonstrate love in a real, practical way.