Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 15.9

John 15:9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. Love has lost its meaning today. The love of which Jesus spoke may be defined as the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of another, no matter what the cost. Jesus told His disciples that He has loved them just as the Father had loved Him. What did He mean “just as” the Father loved Him. How did the Father love Him? What did Jesus do to love them that the Father did to love Him? The answer is in the next verse. For today, let’s be encouraged by Jesus’ encouragement to abide in His love. I think the best way to understand the word abide is to picture the branches receiving the life from the vine. This isn’t a passive reception of the life of Christ, it is active. Sometimes there are branches that are called “suckers”, usually referring to branches that suck the sap from the vine but produce no fruit. These must be removed. However, a branch that does bear fruit also sucks its life from the vine for the very purpose of bearing fruit. All of the life-giving energy is sucked/received from the vine and then channeled to the fruit by the branch. Can you see yourself like that branch today? You’re not passive, you are abiding, sucking, receiving your life today from Jesus who dwells in you. He promises to love through you. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com