The Father’s Love
(NIV) John 15: 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Love. God’s love. God’s perfect love. God’s abiding love. On this Wednesday of Holy Week, 2025, I am drawn to the command to love. But have you ever considered how overused the word “love” is? I love that book, I love that dress, I love pasta, I love, I love, I love.
I wonder what would happen if we reserved the word “love” for God and for people (and for dogs—of course we love dogs.) Would the word take on much more significance if it were not used so casually?
Moving farther into the verse, the King James translation uses the word abide instead of remain. I prefer the word abide—it suggests dwelling, which to me sounds more permanent than staying. So, Jesus tells His disciples to abide in His love so that their joy may be complete. Jesus finishes by giving the command to love each other just as He has loved us.
Many years ago I made the statement it is easy to love God, but it is hard to love people. I had no sooner spoken those words than the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit, and I not only asked forgiveness, but I began to earnestly pray that God would change my heart. Well, he did and before I knew it, I had a supernatural love for people. Does this type of love mean that I am blinded to sin and am accepting of anything and everything? No. It means I can have compassion on those who perhaps have chosen the wrong path, roads that lead to death and destruction rather than life.
May we ask God today to show us people through His eyes, and not only will we love more, but we will find joy in loving and serving.
In the name of the Father, and of the the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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