As you reflect on the verse from John 15:9, it’s clear that Jesus is reminding us of the depth of God’s love for us. He tells us that just as the Father has loved Him, He has loved us.
And what an incredible love that is! It’s a love that is self-sacrificing and unconditional. It’s a love that pursues us even when we turn away from it.
So how do we remain in this love?
Jesus tells us that it’s by obeying His commands (John 15:10). This may sound like a daunting task, but it’s important to remember that Jesus isn’t asking us to obey Him in our own strength.
He promises to send us the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and enable us to do what He asks (John 14:26).
One way we can obey Jesus is by loving others as He has loved us (John 15:12). This means showing sacrificial love to those around us, even when it’s difficult or inconvenient.
It means forgiving those who have wronged us and extending grace to those who don’t deserve it. It means being willing to lay down our own interests and desires for the sake of others.
As we strive to obey Jesus and love others in this way, we can be confident that we are remaining in His love.
What a beautiful place to be! To know that we are loved by the Creator of the universe, and to experience that love in tangible ways through our relationships with others, is truly a gift beyond measure.
So today, let’s make it our aim to remain in Jesus’ love by obeying His commands and loving others as He has loved us.
Be filled with gratitude and awe as you contemplate the depth of God’s love for you, and the privilege you have to abide in it.