Abide In His Love

Jesus said in John 15:9-10, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

Many people struggle to believe the love of Christ for themselves.

They can believe it for someone else. They can preach it, sing it, and explain it. Then when it comes to their own life, they disqualify themselves because of what they have done, what others have said, or what they have experienced.

But Christ has already shown His love.

While we were still sinners, He died for us. The cross shows how far His love was willing to go. And the cross was not where He stopped. He rose again, brought us into union with Himself, and called us to abide in His love.

Other people failing to love you does not disqualify His love for you.

So how do we abide in this love?

We look back at all He has done and thank Him for it. We remember the cross. We remember mercy. We remember salvation. We remember the moments He kept us, restored us, corrected us, and called us closer.

We also look ahead at all of His promises and thank Him for them. We remember that His plan is good. His Word is true. His joy is available. His Spirit is working. His promises cannot be stolen.

Abiding in His love also means keeping His commandments. Jesus connects love and obedience again. Love receives His Word. Love responds to His Word. Love stays close enough to be shaped by His Word.

Life in Jesus is far better than any other life.

He does not call us into union to drain joy out of us. His plan is to bring us into the life that actually leads to joy.

So return to His love.

Look back with gratitude. Look ahead with faith. Stay close enough for His love to shape the way you live.