John 14:15-21 (NRSV)
Read John 14:15-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
Verse 18"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. Verse 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. Verse 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Verse 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."
Devotion
Before his passion, Jesus reminds his disciples of the command to love God and to love one another. Before we can carry out these two commandments, we need to know what love is by looking to Jesus who poured out his heart and life for us, even though we do not deserve it. Led by his example we ask God to teach us how to love all people as Jesus loved—a love that is willing to stop and help the person who is injured on the roadside, willing to share our bread with people who are hungry, willing to reach out and help people in need and not cast judgment on them. Our love for God is demonstrated in how we love God’s people. As Jesus encourages his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Prayer
Give me patience, Lord. May I find my strength to love in you. Amen.