John 15:9-17 (NRSV)
Read John 15:9-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. Verse 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. Verse 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Verse 12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Verse 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. Verse 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. Verse 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. Verse 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. Verse 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Devotion
If you jump into a swimming pool you will get wet. It's not that if you jump in you will prove that you are worthy to get wet and therefore will be granted wetness. No, it's just the way it works. Jesus said if we keep his commandments—love God and love each other—we will find ourselves abiding in Christ—a place of abundant life and complete joy. That's just the way it works. It's hard to love as Jesus loved, though—to put yourself aside for the good of the other, especially to the point of sacrifice and suffering. But Jesus chose us for this and gave us the command so that we could love one another. We love—we abide; we abide—we love.
Prayer
Lord, sometimes you talk in circles. It's a circle of love. Help us to color inside the lines of your love, which has no boundaries, so it shouldn't be too hard for us! Amen.