Live to Love Scripture Encouragement John 17.23.2

John 17:23.2 “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” Okay, can it get any more incredible and wonderful that this: That I am loved with the same love with which the Father loves His Son, Jesus? Let’s not miss this great truth. He doesn’t love us based on how we make Him feel. His love isn’t a responsive or reactionary love. God chooses to love. His love is the sustained direction of His will toward the highest good of another no matter what the cost. His is a steadfast love. Unwavering. Unending. Unlimited. Undefiled. He always acted in His Son’s best interest and highest good for His glory. That is the love that the world needs to see expressed in the church—Jesus’ body. The world needs to see that the Father was abiding in the Son and the Son was abiding in the Father. How will they see that unity? They will see it as believers abide in Jesus and He abides in them and His love. That love is the love of the Father for Him and them. It will be seen as that love overcomes every possible threat that living in this world throws at them or between them. Our testimony in this dark world is this: Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, therefore, nothing can separate us from each other. We are living to love with Jesus. He lives! We love! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com