Scripture:
John 15:9-17 NKJV
[9] “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. [10] 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. [11] “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. [12] This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. [15] No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. [17] These things I command you, that you love one another.
Observation:
A lot of times, we think about GOD’S will for our lives and feel like it’s some mystical thing. Like it’s something that no one can fully know or understand. But I want to challenge you this morning to renew your mind to what the word of GOD actually says about knowing HIS will and hopefully remove the stigma that we often relate to it. As I was reading this morning, I came across this portion of the scripture in John Chapter 15. Now, just to let you know, this is not what I had in mind to write about this morning, so buckle up. I’m not driving this train. In verse 9, Jesus opens up by saying look I want you to know that you are loved in the same way that the Father loves me. I love you in that very same manner. Now, here is the thing that remains in that love. That seems to give us something to do. Like we have a part to play. Continuing in verse, Jesus tells us our part. In a sense, spelling out the will of GOD in just a few short words. I honestly don’t want you to think that this is something that is coming from me, so we will quote it word for word from the book… it’s not me saying this. These words are in red. “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. This leaves me with a question. One that I have heard from the pulpit just recently from the pastor of the church I go to. Why would GOD tell you to do something that HE has not equipped you to do?? I don’t believe HE would do that. In verse 11, Jesus tells us the reason HE has told us these things. By doing so, HIS joy is made complete, and knowing them ours will be too. But again, that brings up the question of why HE would ask us to do something impossible for us to do. Do our failures bring HIM joy?? I would venture to say, “Probably not.” So we honestly need this to be simple enough for us to understand and comprehend. In verse 12, Jesus brings the past few verses to a level that our minds can put together… love one another. That’s the root of the commandments. That’s what it takes to follow them, love. It’s the same kind of love that Jesus gave us… that’s the kind of love we need to show others. In verse 13, the LORD spells it out. “Greater love has no one than this to lay down one’s life for his friends. In that statement, Jesus explained the will of GOD for HIS life. HE told us exactly what HE was going to do. But how does that translate to us? Are we supposed to die for our friends?? As HE continues to speak to HIS disciples, HE continues to tell them that they now know GOD’S will. However, HE doesn’t stop there in verse 14. HE says, “You are my friend if you do what I command you.” A brief flyover would tell us that what HE has commanded us to do is love each other so deeply that we would lay down our lives for one another. In verse 15, we are transitioned from servant to friend because we know the will of GOD not only for Jesus but for ourselves as well. Now, moving on to verses 16 and 17, we see even more truth. We did not choose Jesus, but Jesus chose us, and the reason he did is so that we could bear much fruit and so that the fruit we bear will remain. Following the commandments to love one another in the very same manner that HE loves us opens the windows of heaven to ask for whatever we want, and it will be done. Verse 17 confirms that statement.
Application:
I know that there were a lot of applications in the observation as well. But it’s time to break it down a little more, I feel like I make This statement a lot… but it’s also very necessary to say and to hear because it’s simply the truth. My life is not my own. It has been purchased by the very blood of the son of GOD. That I believe is what HE is telling us. HE has laid down his life for us, and we should do the same for others now… before you go jumping off of a bridge in the name of your best friend, let’s look at what that means. Are we supposed to literally die for others?? That may be necessary at some point. But not what HE is speaking about. Laying down your life for the love of others is explained by Paul in a manner that we can understand a little better as it applies to us in 1st Corinthians chapter 8 verses 9 through 11 where he talks about our liberty in Christ Jesus, and how others may not be in the same place. If something we do is considered a sin by others we should by all means not do that so that others will not fall into what they consider to be sin. Laying down our lives means Laying down what we want for the sake of others it’s also said like this by Paul consider others as more important than yourself. Philippians chapter 2 verse 3. So here it is in a nutshell. The will of GOD for your life and mine is to seek to serve rather than to be served. To do for others and set down what you want for the sake of others. The greatest love that can be shown is to be selfless. That’s the will of GOD. The reason HE will give you what you ask for in prayer is because it will be prayers that are for the benefit of HIS kingdom. When we love our brothers and sisters so much that we will lay down what we want in exchange for what is best for them. It’s truly not about us it’s about the greater good. We have liberty in Christ but if that liberty becomes a stumbling block for someone whose faith in what was done on the cross is not in the same place as yours… it’s a problem. GOD’S will is not a mystery it’s HIStory. We are to be conformed to the image of Christ. To walk like HIM to talk like HIM and most of all to love like HIM laying down our wants and desires for the love of others.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you gave us a book that explains your will for us. There is no secret to it. All you want us to do is read it and your Holy Spirit will direct our path. We ask you this morning to guide us to the scriptures that pertain to where we are at in our walk with you. We want our feet firmly planted on your path. Mold us and shape us to be more like your son we want to be conformed to HIS image. Walking talking and loving just like Jesus. Looking past the mock and the mire to the dust that was in your hands as you formed each man and the rib that you pulled out of the side of everyone of us to make every woman. You knew us before we were ever made. Help us to be the men and women you know us to be. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.